Endocrine Abstracts

Thyroid cancer is the commonest endocrine malignancy but there is much debate about the role of specific treatment modalities, including the extent of surgery, post-operative ablation with iodine-131, need for TSH-suppressive doses of thyroxine, role of serum thyroglobulin measurements and imaging during follow-up. Recent data have suggested poorer outcome for thyroid cancer in the UK than other countries and recent audits have highlighted shortcomings in patient management. These findings prompted the formation in 2000 of a national multidisciplinary thyroid cancer guidelines group (meeting under the auspices of the British Thyroid Association). The guidelines, published at the end of 2001, represent a comprehensive review of evidence regarding management of this disorder. Such evidence is largely retrospective, refelcting the relative rarity of the diagnosis and long natural history. Nonetheless, collation of published data regarding treatments and outcome has allowed development of the first national evidence based guidelines intended for use by all of those involved with the management and health care provision of those with differentiated thyroid cancer. In addition to the main document, there is a summary of key recommendations, emphasising the role of multidisciplinary teams in designated centres of excellence, and detailed information for patients. It is proposed that the document will allow collection of a national dataset of both process of cancer management and outcome and will allow further audit.