The Clinical and Economic Burden of a Sustained Increase in Thyroid Cancer Incidence

Abstract

Background: Thyroid cancer incidence is increasing worldwide at an alarming rate, yet little is known of the impact this increase will have on society. We sought to determine the clinical and economic burden of a sustained increase in thyroid cancer incidence in the United States and to understand how these burdens correlate with the National Cancer Institute's (NCI) prioritization of thyroid cancer research funding.Methods: We used the NCI's SEER 13 database (1992)(1993)(1994)(1995)(1996)(1997)(1998)(1999)(2000)(2001)(2002)(2003)(2004)(2005)(2006)(2007)(2008)(2009) and Joinpoint regression software to identify the current clinical burden of thyroid cancer and to project future incidence through 2019. We combined Medicare reimbursement rates with American Thyroid Association guidelines, and our clinical practice to create an economic model of thyroid cancer. We obtained research-funding data from the NCI's Office of Budget and Finance.Results; By 2019, papillary thyroid cancer will double in incidence and become the third most common cancer in women of all ages at a cost of $18 to $21 billion dollars in the United States. Despite these substantial clinical and economic burdens, thyroid cancer research remains significantly underfunded by comparison, and in 2009 received only $14.7 million (ranked 30th) from the NCI.Conclusion: The impact of thyroid cancer on society has been significantly underappreciated, as is evidenced by its low priority in national research funding levels.Impact: Increased awareness in the medical community and the general public of the societal burden of thyroid cancer, and substantial increases in research on thyroid cancer etiology, prevention, and treatment are needed to offset these growing concerns. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 22(7); 1252-9. Ó2013 AACR.

The Impact of Subclinical Disease and Mechanism of Detection on the Rise in Thyroid Cancer Incidence: A Population-Based Study in Olmsted County, Minnesota During 1935 Through 2012

“…The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) program data suggests that the incidence of TC increased from 4.9 in 1975, to 14.3 cases per 100,000 individuals in 2009 (1). Currently, TC has the most rapid increase in incidence of any cancer, such that it has been estimated that by 2019 TC will become the third most common cancer in women (2). This surge of TC cases has been especially pronounced over the last decade, leading to a substantial impact on the cost of care.…”

Radioiodine uptake in A Renal CYST in A Patient with Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma

“…According to the National Institutes of Health Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results program statistics, thyroid cancer accounts for 3.8% of all newly diagnosed carcinomas, with an estimated cost of diagnostic work-up and treatment averaging $18 to 21 billion dollars (1). Rapid increase in the incidence of thyroid cancer in the last 4 decades, mostly due to a 3-fold increase in the incidence of papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) (2), puts us in a unique position to likely have the opportunity to witness atypical uptake of radioiodine (RAI) during the metastatic work-up in some of these patients.…”

Concomitant thyroid disease and primary hyperparathyroidism in patients undergoing parathyroidectomy or thyroidectomy

“…Since 1973, the annual incidence of thyroid cancer (TC) has increased by more than 500% (2,3) and is expected to rise to 89,500 cases in 2019 (4). TC has the most rapid increase among all other types of cancers (4).…”

“…Since 1973, the annual incidence of thyroid cancer (TC) has increased by more than 500% (2,3) and is expected to rise to 89,500 cases in 2019 (4). TC has the most rapid increase among all other types of cancers (4). The most common variant is well differentiated TC mainly papillary TC which accounts for approximately 95% of thyroid malignancies (5).…”