ASO Author Reflections: Achieving Equity in Thyroid Cancer Treatment—More Work Ahead

Excerpt

Evidence from the past two decades demonstrates significant racial/ethnic disparities in rates of guideline-concordant treatment for well-differentiated thyroid cancer.¹ Compared with White patients, those from minority racial/ethnic backgrounds less frequently receive adequate surgery and adjuvant radioactive iodine when indicated.² However, with the release of the 2015 management guidelines, the American Thyroid Association introduced a paradigm shift in thyroid cancer care.³ With more nuanced strategies for predicting risk of disease recurrence, as well as an improved understanding of the potential downsides of aggressive therapy, the 2015 guidelines recommended de-escalation of treatment for patients with low-risk tumors.⁴ In light of this substantial shift in guidance, it is critical to evaluate how previously described racial/ethnic care disparities have been affected. …