Browsing by Author "Pitt, Susan C."

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    Adoption of Active Surveillance for Very Low-Risk Differentiated Thyroid Cancer in the United States: A National Survey
    (Endocrine Society, 2021) Pitt, Susan C.; Yang, Nan; Saucke, Megan C.; Marka, Nicholas; Hanlon, Bret; Long, Kristin L.; McDow, Alexandria D.; Brito, J.P.; Roman, Benjamin R.; Surgery, School of Medicine
    Context: Active surveillance (AS) of thyroid cancer with serial ultrasounds is a newer management option in the United States. Objective: This work aimed to understand factors associated with the adoption of AS. Methods: We surveyed endocrinologists and surgeons in the American Medical Association Masterfile. To estimate adoption, respondents recommended treatment for 2 hypothetical cases appropriate for AS. Established models of guideline implementation guided questionnaire development. Outcome measures included adoption of AS (nonadopters vs adopters, who respectively did not recommend or recommended AS at least once; and partial vs full adopters, who respectively recommended AS for one or both cases). Results: The 464 respondents (33.3% response) demographically represented specialties that treat thyroid cancer. Nonadopters (45.7%) were significantly (P < .001) less likely than adopters to practice in academic settings, see more than 25 thyroid cancer patients/year, be aware of AS, use applicable guidelines (P = .04), know how to determine whether a patient is appropriate for AS, have resources to perform AS, or be motivated to use AS. Nonadopters were also significantly more likely to be anxious or have reservations about AS, be concerned about poor outcomes, or believe AS places a psychological burden on patients. Among adopters, partial and full adopters were similar except partial adopters were less likely to discuss AS with patients (P = .03) and more likely to be anxious (P = .04), have reservations (P = .03), and have concerns about the psychological burden (P = .009) of AS. Few respondents (3.2%) believed patients were aware of AS. Conclusion: Widespread adoption of AS will require increased patient and physician awareness, interest, and evaluation of outcomes.
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    Factors Associated with Physicians’ Recommendations for Managing Low-Risk Papillary Thyroid Cancer
    (Elsevier, 2021) McDow, Alexandria D.; Roman, Benjamin R.; Saucke, Megan C.; Jensen, Catherine B.; Zaborek, Nick; Jennings, Jamia Linn; Davies, Louise; Brito, Juan P.; Pitt, Susan C.; Surgery, School of Medicine
    Background: The 2015 American Thyroid Association endorsed less aggressive management for low-risk papillary thyroid cancer (LR-PTC). We aimed to identify factors influencing physicians' recommendations for LR-PTC. Methods: We surveyed members of three professional societies and assessed respondents' recommendations for managing LR-PTC using patient scenarios. Multivariable logistic regression models identified clinical and non-clinical factors associated with recommending total thyroidectomy (TT) and active surveillance (AS). Results: The 345 respondents included 246 surgeons and 99 endocrinologists. Physicians' preference for their own management if diagnosed with LR-PTC had the strongest association with their recommendation for TT and AS (TT: OR 12.3; AS: OR 7.5, p < 0.001). Physician specialty and stated patient preference were also significantly associated with their recommendations for both management options. Respondents who received information about AS had increased odds of recommending AS. Conclusions: Physicians' recommendations for LR-PTC are strongly influenced by non-clinical factors, such as personal treatment preference and specialty.
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    Thyroid Lobectomy for Low-Risk Papillary Thyroid Cancer: A National Survey of Low- and High-Volume Surgeons
    (Springer, 2021) McDow, Alexandria D.; Saucke, Megan C.; Marka, Nicholas A.; Long, Kristin L.; Pitt, Susan C.; Surgery, School of Medicine
    Background: The 2015 American Thyroid Association guidelines endorsed lobectomy for patients with low-risk papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) measuring 1-4 cm. Attitudes about the use of lobectomy for these patients are lacking, particularly from low-volume surgeons who perform the majority of thyroidectomies in the US. Methods: A survey was mailed to 1000 surgeons stratified by specialty (500 general surgeons and 500 otolaryngologists) registered with the American Medical Association, to evaluate beliefs and practices about the extent of surgery for low-risk PTC. Comparisons examined differences by surgeon volume. Results: Of 320 respondents who have performed thyroidectomy since 2015 (150 general surgeons, 170 otolaryngologists), 206 (64.4%) were low volume (< 26 thyroidectomies/year). The proportion of surgeons recommending lobectomy for low-risk PTC measuring 1.1 to < 4 cm ranged from 43.1 to 2.6%. High-volume surgeons recommended lobectomy more frequently for PTC measuring 1.1-3 cm, although this was not statistically significant. Thirty-three percent of respondents believed lobectomy is underused for low-risk PTC, while 10.0% believed it is overused. Additionally, 19.6% of respondents believed recurrence is more likely after lobectomy than total thyroidectomy, and 3.3% believed mortality is higher. Few believed quality of life is better after lobectomy (12.3%). Low-volume surgeons were less likely to be aware guidelines support lobectomy for low-risk PTC 1-4 cm (p < 0.001) and less likely to use clinical practice guidelines (p = 0.004). Conclusions: Most surgeons do not support lobectomy for patients with low-risk PTC > 1 cm. Awareness of guidelines and concerns about increased risk of recurrence after lobectomy may drive surgeons' preference for total thyroidectomy.