Clinical Thyroidology for the Public summarizes selected research studies discussed in the previous month’s issue of Clinical Thyroidology, an official publication of the American Thyroid Association. Editor-in-chief, Alan Farwell, MD, FACE
Volume 17 Issue 10
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Clinical Thyroidology for the Public Volume 17 Issue 10 (PDF file, 2.73 MB)
TABLE OF CONTENTS – Web Format
THYROID CANCER
Quality-of-life changes after thyroidectomy for thyroid cancer
Despite an excellent prognosis, thyroid cancer patients are exposed to physical distress associated with treatment and the psychological stress induced by the cancer diagnosis. Indeed, thyroid cancer survivors report having fatigue, anxiety, depression, sleep problems and pain. The goal of this study was to evaluate changes in the quality of life of thyroid cancer patients starting prior to thyroid surgery and for up to 5 years after their initial treatment.
Kim BH, et al. Longitudinal changes in quality of life before and after thyroidectomy in patients with differentiated thyroid cancer. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2024;109(6):1505-1516; doi: 10.1210/clinem/dgad748. PMID: 38141213.
THYROID SURGERY
Patients undergoing thyroid surgery: Impact of body weight on postsurgical outcomes:
There has been considerable research evaluating surgical outcomes in obese patients with mixed results. Higher rates of postoperative complications are reported with a BMI in the overweight and obese range. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of increasing BMI on outcomes following thyroid surgery.
Armstrong VL et al Thyroidectomy outcomes in obese patients. J Surg Res 2024;295:717-722; doi: 10.1016/j. jss.2023.11.071. PMID: 38142574.
THYROID CANCER
Are thyroid cancer gene mutations associated with the response to radioactive iodine therapy?
For patients with metastatic thyroid cancer, radioactive iodine acts as a “magic bullet” to destroy any thyroid cancer that has spread outside the thyroid to other parts of the body. Studies have shown that the ability of thyroid cancer cells to absorb radioactive iodine depends on specific genetic mutations in the cancer cells, known as the cancer’s molecular signature. This study explores how a cancer’s molecular signature affects its ability to absorb radioactive iodine.
Mu Z, Zhang X, Sun D, et al. Characterizing genetic alterations related to radioiodine avidity in metastatic thyroid Cancer. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2024;109(5):1231-1240.
HYPERTHYROIDISM
What patients with Graves’ disease should stay on methimazole longer?
Recently, more and more physicians have been preferring treating patients with Graves’ disease with methimazole with the goal to treat until a remission occurs. Recent studies have shown that patients are more likely to have a remission from Graves’ disease if they were on methimazole for a total of 60 months (long term) as compared to only 12-18 months (short term). This study was performed to assess predictors of relapse and to determine the rate of relapse of patients after short and long-term MMI therapy.
Azizi F et al. Risk of recurrence at the time of withdrawal of short- or long-term methimazole therapy in patients with Graves’ hyperthyroidism: a randomized trial and a risk-scoring model. Endocrine 2024;84(2):577-588; doi: 10.1007/s12020- 023-03656-5. PMID: 38165576.
THYROID EYE DISEASE
Long-term effects of Teprotumumab for thyroid eye disease
Graves’ disease can be associated with an eye complication called Thyroid Eye Disease (TED). A new drug called Teprotumumab has been shown to be very effective in the treatment of severe TED. This study looks at patients with TED who were part of the original trials of Teprotumumab and examines the effects of the drug over a longer period.
Kahaly GJ et al. Long-term efficacy of teprotumumab in thyroid eye disease: follow-up outcomes in three clinical trials. Thyroid. Epub 2024 Jun 2; doi: 10.1089/thy.2023.0656. PMID: 38824618.
THYROID HORMONE THERAPY
Nonthyroidal illness in the setting of heart transplantation: is there a place for thyroid replacement?
The nonthyroidal illness syndrome (NTI) is seen in ~80% of patients in intensive care units. In the vast majority of these patients, thyroid hormone therapy is not indicated. In this study, the association between thyroid status and heart transplantation was explored in patients with end-stage heart failure. The benefit of administering thyroid hormone replacement was also evaluated.
Szécsi B et al. The perioperative period of heart transplantation is affected by thyroid hormone status. Thyroid 2024;34(6):774-784; doi: 10.1089/thy.2023.0628. PMID: 38613807.
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