Abstract
Background: The 2015 American Thyroid Association endorsed less aggressive management for low-risk papillary thyroid cancer (LR-PTC). We aimed to identify factors influencing physicians’ recommendations for LR-PTC. Methods: We surveyed members of three professional societies and assessed respondents’ recommendations for managing LR-PTC using patient scenarios. Multivariable logistic regression models identified clinical and non-clinical factors associated with recommending total thyroidectomy (TT) and active surveillance (AS). Results: The 345 respondents included 246 surgeons and 99 endocrinologists. Physicians’ preference for their own management if diagnosed with LR-PTC had the strongest association with their recommendation for TT and AS (TT: OR 12.3; AS: OR 7.5, p < 0.001). Physician specialty and stated patient preference were also significantly associated with their recommendations for both management options. Respondents who received information about AS had increased odds of recommending AS. Conclusions: Physicians’ recommendations for LR-PTC are strongly influenced by non-clinical factors, such as personal treatment preference and specialty.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 111-118 |
Number of pages | 8 |
Journal | American journal of surgery |
Volume | 222 |
Issue number | 1 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jul 2021 |
Keywords
- Active surveillance
- Low-risk
- Overtreatment
- Survey
- Thyroid cancer
- Thyroidectomy
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Surgery