title: Limited adequacy of thyroid cancer patient follow-up at a Canadian tertiary care centre.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We sought to evaluate the adequacy of follow-up of thyroid cancer patients at a Canadian centre.
  
  
  METHODS
  We mailed a survey to the family physicians of thyroid cancer patients and analyzed the findings relative to follow-up guidelines published by the American Thyroid Association (ATA). Statistical significance between early and late follow-up patterns was analyzed using the χ(2) test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Our survey response rate was 56.2% (91 of 162). The time from operation ranged from 1.24-7.13 (mean 3.96) years, and 87.9% of patients had undergone a physical exam within the previous year. Only 37.4% and 14% of patients had a serum thyroglobulin measurement within 6 and between 6 and 12 months before the survey, respectively. Thyroid simulating hormone (TSH) levels were measured within the prior 6 months in 67% of patients and between 6 and 12 months in 13.2%. The TSH levels were suppressed (< 0.1 μIU/L) in 24.2% of patients, 0.1-2 μIU/L in 44% and greater than 2 μIU/L in 17.6%. Ultrasonography was the most common imaging test performed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is significant variation in the follow-up patterns of patients with thyroid cancer, and there is considerable deviation from current ATA guidelines.
authors.affiliation: The Department of Surgery, St. Paul's Hospital & University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC.
authors.forename: Elaine
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lam
authors.forename: Scott S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Strugnell
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bajdik
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Holmes
authors.forename: Sam M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Wiseman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002170:Canada; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D062606:Tertiary Care Centers; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D055815:Young Adult