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Top thyroid news 2019: treating refractory cancer, thyroid eye disease and more
In 2019, Healio readers were interested in thyroidectomy for Hashimoto’s disease, environmental effects on thyroid function, the limits of thyroid testing, a drug under FDA consideration for thyroid eye disease, subclinical hypothyroidism guidelines, and more.
Thyroidectomy reduces severe Hashimoto's disease symptoms
For adults with Hashimoto’s disease, total thyroidectomy can reduce symptoms of pain and fatigue that remain even after euthyroid status is achieved with standard medical therapy.
Supplements, cancer therapies, endocrine-disrupting chemicals can alter thyroid function
Medications, supplements, excessive iodine intake and other exogenous substances including endocrine-disrupting chemicals can influence multiple thyroid effects that clinicians should recognize, including thyroid dysfunction and altered thyroxine absorption.
New treatments, advances changing outcomes for radioactive iodine-refractory thyroid cancer
Today, a patient diagnosed with radioactive iodine-refractory thyroid cancer has several therapeutic options, many of which promise longer periods of progression-free survival and some reduction in tumor size but rarely complete destruction of the tumor. This changing treatment landscape poses some challenges for endocrinologists.
Thyroid function tests frequently yield no evidence of thyroid disease
In a cohort of adults who received a thyroid function test during hospitalization, most did not have a thyroid disease and those who did generally had mild conditions.
Subclinical hypothyroidism guideline recommends against treatment
A panel of researchers strongly advised against the use of thyroid hormones to treat adults with subclinical hypothyroidism in a recent BMJ Rapid Recommendations guide.
Hyperthyroidism treatments may accelerate increases in weight
Obesity was shown to be more likely to develop in a cohort of adults with hyperthyroidism who received treatment for the condition vs. a background population, with radioiodine therapy applications playing a large role in this trend.
Survey: Most clinicians not following ATA guidelines for subclinical hypothyroidism in pregnancy
Only 5% of clinicians reported adhering to a recommended thyroid-stimulating hormone cutoff proposed by the American Thyroid Association for diagnosing subclinical hypothyroidism in pregnancy, and a minority said they followed recommended indications for measuring thyroid peroxidase antibody status.
New agent reduces eye bulging in Graves’ orbitopathy, offering new hope for patients
Teprotumumab, a human monoclonal antibody, dramatically reduced the most debilitating symptoms of Graves’ orbitopathy, including proptosis and double vision, giving new hope to patients that a treatment for thyroid eye disease may finally be within reach.
Repeat neck ultrasounds ‘should be avoided’ after treatment for most thyroid cancers
Among patients with low- or intermediate-risk differentiated thyroid cancer who underwent thyroidectomy, surveillance can safely be based on periodic serum thyroglobulin assays without the routine use of neck ultrasound if the initial imaging assessment reveals no evidence of disease.
Early, effective control of Graves' disease improves survival, regardless of treatment
An early and intensive control of hyperthyroidism in Graves’ disease is associated with reduced mortality and cardiovascular risk independent of the method of treatment.