Use of Neck Ultrasound as Surveillance in Older Adults With Thyroid Cancer
Authors' conclusion
Older adults with thyroid cancer are more likely to die of causes other than thyroid cancer. To improve high-value care in older adults with thyroid cancer and high-risk of death from other causes, there is need for individualized plans for neck ultrasound use.
Study context
- Population
- Patients aged ≥65 years diagnosed with thyroid cancer, 2016–2021; median age 74 years (range 65–100), 65.1% female
- Participants
- 2,007 patients
- Exposure
- Patients who died of other causes vs remainder of cohort
- Died of other causesn = 259
- Outcome
- Cause of death
- Follow-up
- Median 3 years, range 0-6 years
Methodological detailsMedicare data linked to University of Michigan health data
- Medicare data linked to University of Michigan health data
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Died of thyroid cancer
76
3.8%
Died of other causes
259
12.9%
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Number of neck US during study period
P < 0.001
Heart disease
- Heart disease in those who died of other causes
- 179 (69.1%)
- Heart disease in entire cohort
- 868 (43.3%)
- More comorbidities in those who died of other causes
Original publication
Use of Neck Ultrasound as Surveillance in Older Adults With Thyroid Cancer. Endocr Pract. Published 30 April 2025. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →