Neck Ultrasound in Older Adults With Thyroid Nodules: Considering Risk of Death From Other Causes
Authors' conclusion
Older adults with thyroid nodules are more likely to die of causes other than thyroid cancer. Neck ultrasound for surveillance should be tailored to the patient, with consideration for comorbidities and life expectancy.
Study context
- Population
- Patients aged ≥ 65 with thyroid nodule(s), CMS data combined with University of Michigan Medicine data, 2016–2021; median age 75 years, 71.2% female
- Participants
- 18,001 patients
- Exposure
- Patients who died of other causes vs rest of cohort
- Died of other causesn = 2,387
- Outcome
- Cause of death
- Follow-up
- Median 2 years, range 0-6 years
Methodological detailsMedicare claims linked to single-institution health data
- Medicare claims linked to single-institution health data
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Died of thyroid cancer
29
0.2%
Died of other causes
2387
13.3%
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Neck US during study period
P < 0.001
| Outcome | Died of other causes | Rest of |
|---|---|---|
| Number of comorbidities | mean 1.73 (range 0–5) | — not stated in the abstract |
— not stated in the abstract
- Number of comorbidities — Mean comorbidities in entire cohort
- 1.2 (range 0-6)
Original publication
Neck Ultrasound in Older Adults With Thyroid Nodules: Considering Risk of Death From Other Causes. Endocr Pract. Published 15 July 2025. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →