THYROID Volume 26, Number 5, 2016 ª Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. DOI: 10.1089/thy.2015.0390
THYROID CANCER AND NODULES
Developing a Registry for Thyroid Incidentalomas: Lessons Learned and the Path Forward Louise Davies,1–3 Erin Pichiotino,4 William C. Black,3,5,6 and Anna N.A. Tosteson3,6,7
Background: Incidentalomas are findings on an imaging test done for other reasons, for which there are no matching symptoms in the patient. They are common in the adrenal gland, pancreas, liver, and thyroid, among other sites. Incidentalomas are a problem because we have a limited understanding of their natural history: it is difficult to know how much of a threat they pose to individual patients. An observational registry that would allow a systematic study of thyroid incidentalomas could reveal their natural history and the effect of detection on patients’ lives, as well as document the cost to the healthcare system. A registry would help to determine which incidentalomas could be monitored and which require action. Study design: A cohort study was conducted, with case identification via radiology imaging reports with follow-up through a minimum of one year post-identification. Results: In one year, >109,000 imaging studies were performed that might reveal an incidental thyroid finding (computed tomography scans of the neck or chest, magnetic resonance imaging of the neck, plain x-ray of the chest, non-thyroid directed ultrasound of the neck, positron emission tomography scan, or myocardial perfusion scan). A total of 125 patients were identified as having a thyroid nodule, with a
THYROID CANCER AND NODULES
Developing a Registry for Thyroid Incidentalomas: Lessons Learned and the Path Forward Louise Davies,1–3 Erin Pichiotino,4 William C. Black,3,5,6 and Anna N.A. Tosteson3,6,7
Background: Incidentalomas are findings on an imaging test done for other reasons, for which there are no matching symptoms in the patient. They are common in the adrenal gland, pancreas, liver, and thyroid, among other sites. Incidentalomas are a problem because we have a limited understanding of their natural history: it is difficult to know how much of a threat they pose to individual patients. An observational registry that would allow a systematic study of thyroid incidentalomas could reveal their natural history and the effect of detection on patients’ lives, as well as document the cost to the healthcare system. A registry would help to determine which incidentalomas could be monitored and which require action. Study design: A cohort study was conducted, with case identification via radiology imaging reports with follow-up through a minimum of one year post-identification. Results: In one year, >109,000 imaging studies were performed that might reveal an incidental thyroid finding (computed tomography scans of the neck or chest, magnetic resonance imaging of the neck, plain x-ray of the chest, non-thyroid directed ultrasound of the neck, positron emission tomography scan, or myocardial perfusion scan). A total of 125 patients were identified as having a thyroid nodule, with a
