No Significant Difference in Outcomes for Surgical Treatment of Thyroid Cancer in Kidney Transplant Recipients - Analysis of the HCUP NIS Data

Abstract

Solid organ transplant recipients, and in particular Kidney Transplant (KTx) patients, are at increased risk for developing thyroid cancers due to immunosuppression and improved long-term survival post-transplant. Using the HCUP NIS database, we compared mortality rate, disposition, LOS, and total hospital charge between KTx and Non-KTx patients following thyroidectomy for thyroid cancer during 2008-2014. Propensity score matching was performed using demographics, payer, income, hospital characteristics, elective admission, and in-hospital mortality index score. There were no significant differences in mortality rate, disposition, LOS, and total hospital charge between KTx and Non-KTx patients following both univariable analysis and propensity score matching even though KTx patients have a significantly higher number of chronic conditions and in-hospital mortality index score. Our data shows that KTx patients can safely undergo thyroidectomy for cancer despite being a high-risk population.