The Epidemic of Thyroid Cancer: Is It Real?

Physicians and the public are concerned and confused about the epidemic of thyroid cancer. Physicians are frequently uncertain about the appropriate evaluation of thyroid nodules and there is uncertainty about the appropriate extent of thyroid surgery for well-differentiated thyroid cancer. Learn more about this epidemic from Robert Udelsman, M.D.

Target Audience

Primary Care Physicians, Dentists, Otolaryngologists, Gastroenterologists, Radiologists, Medical Oncologists, Oral Maxillofacial Surgeons, Surgeons, Pathologists, Hospitalists, and Physician Assistants.

Learning Objectives

  • Identify which thyroid nodules should be biopsied and recognize the appropriate extent of thyroid surgery.
  • Explain the possible causes of the thyroid cancer epidemic.
Additional information
Bibliography: 
  • Haugen, B. R., Alexander, E. K., Bible, K. C., Doherty, G. M., Mandel, S. J., Nikiforov, Y. E., ... & Schuff, K. G. (2016). 2015 American Thyroid Association management guidelines for adult patients with thyroid nodules and differentiated thyroid cancer: the American Thyroid Association guidelines task force on thyroid nodules and differentiated thyroid cancer. Thyroid, 26(1), 1-133.
  • Vaccarella S, et al. Worldwide Thyroid-Cancer Epidemic? The Increasing Impact of Overdiagnosis.  N Engl J Med 375:614-617, 2016.
  • Zhang Y, et al. Diagnostic Radiology Exposure Increases the Risk of Thyroid Microicarcinoma: A population-Based Case-Control Study. Eur J Cancer Prev 24(5):439-436, 2015.
Course Summary
Available credit: 
  • 0.25 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™
  • 0.25 General certificate of attendance
Course opens: 
06/01/2019
Course expires: 
05/31/2022

Robert Udelsman, M.D., MBA, FACS, FACE
Director, Endocrine Neoplasia Institute
Chief of Endocrine Surgery
Disease Team Director, Endocrine Neoplasia
Miami Cancer Institute

Robert Udelsman, M.D., faculty of this educational activity, has no relevant financial relationship with ineligible companies* to disclose and he will not include off-label or unapproved product usage in his presentation or discussion.

Conference Directors

Guilherme Rabinowits, M.D., indicated that he is a consultant with Pfizer, Merck, Sanofi, Castel, Lighthouse, EMD Serono and Regeneron and a shareholder with Regeneron and Syros Pharmaceuticals.

Geoffrey Young, M.D., has no relevant financial relationship with ineligible companies* to disclose.

All of the relevant financial relationships listed for these individuals have been mitigated.

Non-faculty contributors and others involved in the planning, development, and editing/review of the content have no relevant financial relationships to disclose with ineligible companies*.

*Ineligible companies - Companies whose primary business is producing, marketing, selling, re-selling, or distributing healthcare products used by or on patients.

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Baptist Health South Florida is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians. Baptist Health has been re-surveyed by the ACCME and awarded Commendation for 6 years as a provider of CME for physicians.
              
Baptist Health South Florida designates this enduring material for a maximum of 0.25 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Available Credit

  • 0.25 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™
  • 0.25 General certificate of attendance
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