Jordan Wong1, Kaidi Liu2, Celia Siu3, Steven Jones4, Marlise Sovka5, Don Wilson6, Sam M Wiseman7. 1. Department of Surgery, St. Paul's Hospital & University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada; Department of Radiation Oncology, BC Cancer Agency, Vancouver, BC, Canada. Electronic address: jordanktwong@gmail.com. 2. Department of Surgery, St. Paul's Hospital & University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada. Electronic address: kliu@providencehealth.bc.ca. 3. Michael Smith Genome Sciences Centre, Vancouver, BC, Canada. Electronic address: csiu@bcgsc.ca. 4. Michael Smith Genome Sciences Centre, Vancouver, BC, Canada. Electronic address: sjones@bcgsc.ca. 5. Department of Surgery, St. Paul's Hospital & University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada. Electronic address: marlise.chan@shaw.ca. 6. Functional Imaging Department, BC Cancer Agency, Vancouver, BC, Canada. Electronic address: dwilson@bccancer.bc.ca. 7. Department of Surgery, St. Paul's Hospital & University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada. Electronic address: smwiseman@providencehealth.bc.ca.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: PET diagnosed thyroid incidentalomas (TI) should undergo prompt evaluation due to a high risk of underlying malignancy. Our study reviewed physician management of PET diagnosed TIs in British Columbia (BC), Canada. METHODS: All PET reports from BC between 2011 and 2014 were reviewed. Clinical and demographic data was obtained for TI patients through chart review and mail out surveys to physicians. Statistical analysis was performed to identify factors associated with further TI investigation. RESULTS: 4.7% PET scans diagnosed TIs in 5.3% of patients. 9.8% of diffuse and 46.1% of focal TI cases underwent ultrasound ± biopsy. PET scan report characteristics were significantly associated with further TI investigation (p-value <0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with PET diagnosed TIs are being under-investigated in BC and PET scan report related factors were found to be significantly associated with undergoing further TI workup.
BACKGROUND: PET diagnosed thyroid incidentalomas (TI) should undergo prompt evaluation due to a high risk of underlying malignancy. Our study reviewed physician management of PET diagnosed TIs in British Columbia (BC), Canada. METHODS: All PET reports from BC between 2011 and 2014 were reviewed. Clinical and demographic data was obtained for TI patients through chart review and mail out surveys to physicians. Statistical analysis was performed to identify factors associated with further TI investigation. RESULTS: 4.7% PET scans diagnosed TIs in 5.3% of patients. 9.8% of diffuse and 46.1% of focal TI cases underwent ultrasound ± biopsy. PET scan report characteristics were significantly associated with further TI investigation (p-value <0.05). CONCLUSIONS:Patients with PET diagnosed TIs are being under-investigated in BC and PET scan report related factors were found to be significantly associated with undergoing further TI workup.
Authors: Janet E Squires; Danielle Cho-Young; Laura D Aloisio; Robert Bell; Stephen Bornstein; Susan E Brien; Simon Decary; Melissa Demery Varin; Mark Dobrow; Carole A Estabrooks; Ian D Graham; Megan Greenough; Doris Grinspun; Michael Hillmer; Tanya Horsley; Jiale Hu; Alan Katz; Christina Krause; John Lavis; Wendy Levinson; Adrian Levy; Michelina Mancuso; Steve Morgan; Letitia Nadalin-Penno; Andrew Neuner; Tamara Rader; Wilmer J Santos; Gary Teare; Joshua Tepper; Amanda Vandyk; Michael Wilson; Jeremy M Grimshaw Journal: CMAJ Date: 2022-02-28 Impact factor: 16.859