ECE2023 Poster Presentations Thyroid (163 abstracts)
1Hedi Chaker University Hospital, Department of Endocrinology, Sfax, Tunisia; 2Habib Bourguiba University Hospital, Department of Nuclear Medicine, Sfax, Tunisia
Objective: to evaluate the fear of recurrence of differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) in patients in complete remission.
Patients and Methods: Cross-sectional study of 41 patients in complete remission after treatment of DTC, followed up at the Nuclear Medicine Centre of Sfax, Tunisia. The evaluation was based on the administration of a shortened version of the Fear of Cancer Recurrence Inventory (FCRI-SF) to all patients (maximum score 36 points)
Results: The mean age of the patients interviewed was 45.4±13.4 years with a predominance of females (92.7%). The majority had papillary carcinoma (87.8%), more rarely vesicular carcinoma (12.2%). Initial metastases were reported in 9.8% of cases. Thus, 21.9% of carcinomas were classified as high risk. The mean cumulative ablative dose of iodine-131 was 265.9±197 mCi. The mean disease-free survival was 5.1±3.9 years. The FCRI score was 10.9±8 points with extremes ranging from 0 to 26 points. A significant fear of recurrence was noted in 10.8% of the patients surveyed. Concerns about DTC relapse were unclear for 18.9%. The majority of patients were no longer worried about the relapse (70.3%). Factors associated with a significant fear of recurrence were vesicular type (OR=0.16; P=0.028) and histological evidence of angioinvasion (OR=0.12; P=0.022).
Discussion: The fear of recurrence in DTC is significantly lower than that observed in other cancers (breast=60%, colorectal=38%). A collaborative therapeutic approach including the patient and his relatives helps to reassure patients about the good prognosis of DTC.