7742 Clinical Outcomes of Thyroid Cancer Patients Enrolled in a Comprehensive Thyroid Cancer Survivorship Program
Authors: Ruiz Santillan M A , Rollins J L , Lee-Kim S H , Hu M I , Sherman S I , Varghese J , Busaidy N L , Cabanillas M , Dadu R , Iyer P C , Ying A K , Waguespack S G , Devin J K , Jimenez C , Vassilopoulou-Sellin R , Gagel R F , Zafereo M , Graham P H , Perrier N D , Grubbs E , Fisher S B , Habra M A 
Published: October 2024

Abstract
Disclosure: M.A. Ruiz Santillan: None. J.L. Rollins: None. S. Lee-Kim: None. M.I. Hu: None. S.I. Sherman: None. J. Varghese: None. N.L. Busaidy: None. M. Cabanillas: None. R. Dadu: None. P.C. Iyer: None. A.K. Ying: None. S.G. Waguespack: None. J.K. Devin: None. C. Jimenez: None. R. Vassilopoulou-Sellin: None. R.F. Gagel: None. M. Zafereo: None. P.H. Graham: None. N.D. Perrier: None. E. Grubbs: None. S.B. Fisher: None. M.A. Habra: None.
Background Thyroid cancer, being the most common endocrine malignancy with excellent prognosis, is an ideal model for cancer survivorship. The Thyroid Cancer Survivorship clinic (TCSC) was established to provide oncologic, functional, behavioral follow-up, and age-appropriate cancer screening. Entry criteria into TCSC were developed using expert opinion as formalized consensus guidelines for thyroid cancer survivorship care do not exist. Patients may transition at 1, 3, or 5 years after initial diagnosis depending on original histology and stage, lack of definitive biochemical (thyroglobulin or Calcitonin/CEA), and/or structural evidence of disease. It is run by nurse practitioners with physician supervision. The impact of the transition criteria from acute care to survivorship has not been evaluated. To fill this knowledge gap, we analyzed data from TCSC to assess important clinical outcomes including return to active care, disease recurrence, and overall survival. Methods A single-institution, retrospective review was conducted to identify patients with differentiated (DTC) and medullary (MTC) thyroid cancer enrolled in our TCSC. We particularly assessed patients who were referred from TCSC back to active care because of suspected recurrence, which was defined as either biochemical and/or structural and based on abnormal biochemical markers and/or imaging. Results Between 2009-2023, 2887 patients were transitioned from active care to the TCSC out of whom 246 (8%) patients returned to active care for: the evaluation of endocrine disorders in 84 pts (2.9%), scheduling factors 74 pts (2.6%), and suspected recurrence in 88 pts (3%) (83 with DTC and 5 with MTC). Recurrence was suspected based on abnormal biochemical markers in 40/88, imaging in 34/88, or both in 14/88. Of the patients with suspected recurrence there were 66 females and 22 males with a median age at the time of initial diagnosis of 44 (range: 18-76) years. The median follow-up time from diagnosis to the last visit to our institution was 14 (range: 5-55) years and the median follow-up from transition to the TCSC to the last visit was 8 (range: 1-14) years. At the time of entering TCSC, 21/88 (24%) had biochemical indeterminate disease, while 38 (43%) had indeterminate imaging findings on neck ultrasound. DTC patients returned to active care after a median of 5 (range: 0.26-13) years and MTC patients returned after a median of 2 years (range: 0.81-11). At the last follow-up visit, 42/88 (48%) patients were alive with no evidence of disease, 41/88 (47%) were alive with residual disease and 5/88 (5%) died (3 of thyroid cancer, 1 of breast and 1 of genitourinary malignancy complications). Conclusions The retention rate is high in TCSC, with a small percentage transitioning back to active care. Only 3% of patients transitioned back to active care for suspected recurrences, with half occurring more than 5 years after entering survivorship.
Presentation: 6/3/2024