National Cancer Database Reveals Disparities in Access to Thyroid Cancer Surgery

Wednesday June 13, 2007

According to an analysis of the National Cancer Database (NCDB), high-volume hospitals are likely to deliver the best papillary thyroid cancer care, and certain groups of patients are among those less likely to receive optimal treatment for papillary thyroid cancer.

The analysis, conducted by the American College of Surgeons (ACS) found that papillary thyroid cancer patients do not have equal access to total thyroidectomy (total removal of the thyroid), considered the best surgical treatment for the condition.

Those patients less likely to undergo a total thyroidectomy?

African-American

Older than age 45

Medicare recipients

Lower household income

Less education

The analysis also found that patients treated at a National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN)/National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated cancer centers were 23 percent more likely than patients at other facilities to be treated with a total thyroidectomy.

Patients being treated at hospitals that do a larger number of thyroid surgeries were also more likely to receive a total thyroidectomy, compared to low-volume or smaller community hospitals.

Source: American College of Surgeons, http://www.facs.org/news/ncdbstudy.html

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