Natalia Arroyo1, Katy J L Bell2, Vivian Hsiao3, Sara Fernandes-Taylor1, Oguzhan Alagoz4, Yichi Zhang4, Louise Davies5,6,7, David O Francis1,8. 1. Wisconsin Surgical Outcomes Research Program (WiSOR), Department of Surgery, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53792, USA. 2. School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Camperdown NSW 2050, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. 3. Department of Surgery, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53792, USA. 4. Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA. 5. The VA Outcomes Group, Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, White River Junction, VT 05009, USA. 6. Section of Otolaryngology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH, USA. 7. The Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice, Lebanon, NH, USA. 8. Division of Otolaryngology, Department of Surgery, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53792, USA.
Abstract
CONTEXT: It is not known how underlying subclinical papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) differs by age. This meta-analysis of autopsy studies investigates how subclinical PTC prevalence changes over the lifetime. METHODS: We searched PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science databases from inception to May 2021 for studies that reported the prevalence of PTC found at autopsy. Two investigators extracted the number of subclinical PTCs detected in selected age groups and extent of examination. A quality assessment tool was used to assess bias. Logistic regression models with random intercepts were used to pool the age-specific subclinical PTC prevalence estimates. RESULTS: Of 1773 studies screened, 16 studies with age-specific data met the inclusion criteria (n = 6286 autopsies). The pooled subclinical PTC prevalence was 12.9% (95% CI 7.8-16.8) in whole gland and 4.6% (2.5- 6.6) in partial gland examination. Age-specific prevalence estimates were ≤40 years, 11.5% (6.8-16.1); 41-60 years, 12.1% (7.6-16.5); 61-80 years, 12.7% (8-17.5); and 81+ years, 13.4% (7.9-18.9). Sex did not affect age-specific prevalence and there was no difference in prevalence between men and women in any age group. In the regression model, the OR of prevalence increasing by age group was 1.06 (0.92-1.2, P = .37). CONCLUSION: This meta-analysis shows the prevalence of subclinical PTC is stable across the lifespan. There is not a higher subclinical PTC prevalence in middle age, in contrast to higher observed incidence rates in this age group. These findings offer unique insights into the prevalence of subclinical PTC and its relationship to age.
CONTEXT: It is not known how underlying subclinical papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) differs by age. This meta-analysis of autopsy studies investigates how subclinical PTC prevalence changes over the lifetime. METHODS: We searched PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science databases from inception to May 2021 for studies that reported the prevalence of PTC found at autopsy. Two investigators extracted the number of subclinical PTCs detected in selected age groups and extent of examination. A quality assessment tool was used to assess bias. Logistic regression models with random intercepts were used to pool the age-specific subclinical PTC prevalence estimates. RESULTS: Of 1773 studies screened, 16 studies with age-specific data met the inclusion criteria (n = 6286 autopsies). The pooled subclinical PTC prevalence was 12.9% (95% CI 7.8-16.8) in whole gland and 4.6% (2.5- 6.6) in partial gland examination. Age-specific prevalence estimates were ≤40 years, 11.5% (6.8-16.1); 41-60 years, 12.1% (7.6-16.5); 61-80 years, 12.7% (8-17.5); and 81+ years, 13.4% (7.9-18.9). Sex did not affect age-specific prevalence and there was no difference in prevalence between men and women in any age group. In the regression model, the OR of prevalence increasing by age group was 1.06 (0.92-1.2, P = .37). CONCLUSION: This meta-analysis shows the prevalence of subclinical PTC is stable across the lifespan. There is not a higher subclinical PTC prevalence in middle age, in contrast to higher observed incidence rates in this age group. These findings offer unique insights into the prevalence of subclinical PTC and its relationship to age.
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