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Eaglehouse YL, Darmon S, Shriver CD, Zhu K. Racial-Ethnic Comparison of Treatment for Papillary Thyroid Cancer in the Military Health System. Ann Surg Oncol 2024:10.1245/s10434-024-15941-2. [PMID: 39085551 DOI: 10.1245/s10434-024-15941-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2024] [Accepted: 07/16/2024] [Indexed: 08/02/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE We aimed to compare Asian or Pacific Islander, Black, Hispanic, and non-Hispanic White patients in treatment for papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) in the equal access Military Health System to better understand racial-ethnic cancer health disparities observed in the United States. METHODS We used the MilCanEpi database to identify a cohort of men and women aged 18 or older who were diagnosed with PTC between 1998 and 2014. Low- or high-risk status was assigned using tumor size and lymph node involvement. Treatment with surgery (e.g., thyroidectomy) overall and treatment by risk status [active surveillance (low-risk) or adjuvant radioactive iodine (RAI) (high-risk)] was compared between racial-ethnic groups using multivariable logistic regression and expressed as adjusted odds ratios (AOR) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). RESULTS The study included 598 Asian, 553 Black, 340 Hispanic, and 2958 non-Hispanic White patients with PTC. Asian (AOR = 1.21, 95% CI 0.98, 1.49), Black (AOR = 1.07, 95% CI 0.87, 1.32), and Hispanic (AOR = 0.92, 95% CI 0.71, 1.19) patients were as likely as White patients to receive surgery. By risk status, there were no significant racial-ethnic differences in receipt of active surveillance or thyroidectomy for low-risk PTC or in thyroidectomy or total thyroidectomy with adjuvant RAI for high-risk PTC. CONCLUSIONS In the Military Health System, where patients have equal access to care, there were no overall racial-ethnic differences in surgical treatment for PTC. As American Thyroid Association guidelines evolve to include more conservative treatment, further research is warranted to understand potential disparities in active surveillance and surgical management in U.S. healthcare settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yvonne L Eaglehouse
- Department of Surgery, Murtha Cancer Center Research Program (MCCRP), F. Edward Hébert School of Medicine, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USUHS), Bethesda, MD, USA.
- The Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Inc., Bethesda, MD, USA.
| | - Sarah Darmon
- Department of Surgery, Murtha Cancer Center Research Program (MCCRP), F. Edward Hébert School of Medicine, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USUHS), Bethesda, MD, USA
- The Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Inc., Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Craig D Shriver
- Department of Surgery, Murtha Cancer Center Research Program (MCCRP), F. Edward Hébert School of Medicine, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USUHS), Bethesda, MD, USA
- Department of Surgery, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Kangmin Zhu
- Department of Surgery, Murtha Cancer Center Research Program (MCCRP), F. Edward Hébert School of Medicine, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USUHS), Bethesda, MD, USA.
- The Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Inc., Bethesda, MD, USA.
- Department of Preventive Medicine and Biostatistics, F. Edward Hébert School of Medicine, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, USA.
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Goldner W, Sinclair C. Clinical and Surgical Year in Review. Thyroid 2024; 34:3-9. [PMID: 38062755 DOI: 10.1089/thy.2023.0601] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Whitney Goldner
- Division of Diabetes, Endocrinology, and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska, USA
| | - Catherine Sinclair
- Department of Surgery, Monash University, Clayton, Australia
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
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Ginzberg SP, Gasior JA, Passman JE, Ballester JMS, Finn CB, Karakousis GC, Kelz RR, Wachtel H. Disparities in Presentation, Treatment, and Survival in Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer. Ann Surg Oncol 2023; 30:6788-6798. [PMID: 37474696 DOI: 10.1245/s10434-023-13945-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2023] [Accepted: 06/27/2023] [Indexed: 07/22/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Disparities have been previously described in the presentation, management, and outcomes of other thyroid cancer subtypes; however, it is unclear whether such disparities exist in anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC). METHODS We identified patients with ATC from the National Cancer Database (2004-2020). The primary outcomes were receipt of surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation. The secondary outcome was 1-year survival. Multivariable logistic and Cox proportional hazards regressions were used to assess the associations between sex, race/ethnicity, and the outcomes. RESULTS Among 5359 patients included, 58% were female, and 80% were non-Hispanic white. Median tumor size was larger in males than females (6.5 vs. 6.0 cm; p < 0.001) and in patients with minority race/ethnicity than in white patients (6.5 vs. 6.0 cm; p < 0.001). After controlling for tumor size and metastatic disease, female patients were more likely to undergo surgical resection (odds ratio [OR]: 1.20; p = 0.016) but less likely to undergo chemotherapy (OR: 0.72; p < 0.001) and radiation (OR: 0.76; p < 0.001) compared with males. Additionally, patients from minority racial/ethnic backgrounds were less likely to undergo chemotherapy (OR: 0.69; p < 0.001) and radiation (OR: 0.71; p < 0.001) than white patients. Overall, unadjusted, 1-year survival was 23%, with differences in treatment receipt accounting for small but significant differences in survival between groups. CONCLUSIONS There are disparities in the presentation and treatment of ATC by sex and race/ethnicity that likely reflect differences in access to care as well as patient and provider preferences. While survival is similarly poor across groups, the changing landscape of treatments for ATC warrants efforts to address the potential for exacerbation of disparities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara P Ginzberg
- Department of Surgery, University of Pennsylvania Health System, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
- Penn Center for Cancer Care Innovation, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
| | - Julia A Gasior
- Department of Surgery, University of Pennsylvania Health System, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Jesse E Passman
- Department of Surgery, University of Pennsylvania Health System, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Jacqueline M Soegaard Ballester
- Department of Surgery, University of Pennsylvania Health System, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Penn Center for Cancer Care Innovation, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Caitlin B Finn
- Department of Surgery, University of Pennsylvania Health System, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Giorgos C Karakousis
- Department of Surgery, University of Pennsylvania Health System, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Rachel R Kelz
- Department of Surgery, University of Pennsylvania Health System, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Heather Wachtel
- Department of Surgery, University of Pennsylvania Health System, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
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Ginzberg SP, Soegaard Ballester JM, Wirtalla CJ, Pryma DA, Mandel SJ, Kelz RR, Wachtel H. Insurance-Based Disparities in Guideline-Concordant Thyroid Cancer Care in the Era of De-escalation. J Surg Res 2023; 289:211-219. [PMID: 37141704 PMCID: PMC10229451 DOI: 10.1016/j.jss.2023.03.046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2022] [Revised: 02/20/2023] [Accepted: 03/21/2023] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Prior studies have demonstrated insurance-based disparities in the treatment of well-differentiated thyroid cancer. However, it remains unclear whether these disparities have persisted in the era of the 2015 American Thyroid Association (ATA) management guidelines. The goal of this study was to assess whether insurance type is associated with the receipt of guideline-concordant and timely thyroid cancer treatment in a modern cohort. METHODS Patients diagnosed with well-differentiated thyroid cancer between 2016 and 2019 were identified from the National Cancer Database. Appropriateness of surgical and radioactive iodine treatment (RAI) was determined based on the 2015 ATA guidelines. Multivariable logistic regression and Cox proportional hazard regression analyses, stratified at age 65, were used to evaluate the associations between insurance type and appropriateness and timeliness of the treatment. RESULTS 125,827 patients were included (private = 71%, Medicare = 19%, Medicaid = 10%). Compared to privately insured patients, patients with Medicaid more frequently presented with tumors >4 cm in size (11% versus 8%, P < 0.001) and regional metastases (29% versus 27%, P < 0.001). However, patients with Medicaid were also less likely to undergo appropriate surgical treatment (odds ratio 0.69, P < 0.001), less likely to undergo surgery within 90 d of diagnosis (hazard ratio 0.80, P < 0.001), and more likely to be undertreated with RAI (odds ratio 1.29, P < 0.001). There were no differences in the likelihood of guideline-concordant surgical or medical treatment by insurance type in patients ≥65 y old. CONCLUSIONS In the era of the 2015 ATA guidelines, patients with Medicaid remain less likely to receive guideline-concordant, timely surgery and more likely to be undertreated with RAI compared to privately insured patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara P Ginzberg
- Department of Surgery, Hospital of University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
| | | | - Chris J Wirtalla
- Department of Surgery, Hospital of University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Daniel A Pryma
- Department of Radiology, Division of Nuclear Medicine, Hospital of University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Susan J Mandel
- Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism, Perelman Center for Advanced Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Rachel R Kelz
- Department of Surgery, Hospital of University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Heather Wachtel
- Department of Surgery, Hospital of University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
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Ginzberg SP, Wachtel H. ASO Author Reflections: Achieving Equity in Thyroid Cancer Treatment-More Work Ahead. Ann Surg Oncol 2023; 30:2938-2939. [PMID: 36765004 DOI: 10.1245/s10434-023-13216-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2023] [Accepted: 01/27/2023] [Indexed: 02/12/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Sara P Ginzberg
- Department of Surgery, University of Pennsylvania Health System, 3400 Spruce Street, 4 Maloney Building, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA.
| | - Heather Wachtel
- Department of Surgery, University of Pennsylvania Health System, 3400 Spruce Street, 4 Maloney Building, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
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