Well-differentiated epithelial thyroid cancer management in the Asia Pacific region: a report and clinical practice guideline.
BACKGROUND
Thyroid cancer is among the 10 most common malignancies in populations in the Asia Pacific region, where access to various relevant health care resources varies widely.


OBJECTIVE
An expert consensus conference was held to define regional patterns of practice and guidelines for optimal management of well-differentiated epithelial thyroid carcinomas.


RESULTS
Practice patterns vary from country to country, as would be anticipated form their variety of ethnic and racial populations, health care systems, economies, and cultures. Thyroid cancer care is provided by a number of medical and surgical specialists, usually including endocrinologists. The thyroid surgical skills, experience, and outcomes vary widely in the region. Radioiodine is available, to a greater or lesser extent, is almost all countries. Laboratory services for thyroid function monitoring are universally accessible; thyroglobulin assays are available in most countries. Recombinant thyrotropin is approved for use in only two countries, but can be accessed in some others on a "named patient" compassionate need basis. Access to advanced imaging, for exampke, positron emission tomography (PET) scanning, is limited to a few countries.


CONCLUSIONS
In light of these realities, appropriate strategies for initial treatment and postoperative monitoring of patients with thyroid cancer have been defined, and these are presented and discussed.
Sundram
Felix
F
Nuclear Medicine Department, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore.
Robinson
Bruce G
BG
Kung
Annie
A
Lim-Abrahan
Mary Anne
MA
Bay
Nguyen Quang
NQ
Chuan
Loh Keh
LK
Chung
Jae Hoon
JH
Huang
Shih-Ming
SM
Hsu
Li-Cho
LC
Kamaruddin
Norazmi
N
Cheah
Wei Keat
WK
Kim
Won Bae
WB
Koong
Sung-Soo
SS
Lin
Hong Da
HD
Mangklabruks
Ampica
A
Paz-Pacheco
Elizabeth
E
Rauff
Abu
A
Ladenson
Paul W
PW
D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001208:Asia; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D004704:Endocrinology / Q000379:methods; D009375:Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents