Well-differentiated Thyroid Cancer and Thyrogen

The American Cancer Society estimates that there will be about 22,000 new diagnoses of thyroid cancer in the United States in 2003 ^[1] Over the last 5 years, thyroid cancer incidence has increased over 20%. Although this cancer often has a good prognosis, it is estimated that about 800 women and 600 men in the United States may die from thyroid cancer this year.^[1,2]

Since most diagnoses occur between the ages of 20 and 54, patients may well have decades of follow-up.^[2] This becomes more important in light of the fact that as many as 30% of well-differentiated thyroid cancers may recur even decades after initial diagnosis, and one third of all recurrences may happen 10 years or more after initial treatment.^[3] Moreover, it should be noted that well-differentiated thyroid cancer accounts for an estimated 75% of all thyroid cancer deaths.^[4] Thus, all thyroid cancer patients could benefit from regular monitoring.

Early diagnosis and aggressive treatment, coupled with continued regular monitoring may be able to lower mortality rates.^[5] Thyrogen^® can be a valuable diagnostic tool in ongoing monitoring. For more information, please see the full prescribing information.

Within this section you can:

Learn about Thyrogen, how it may help patients avoid the morbidities associated with hypothyroidism, and the role it can play in ongoing monitoring

Review testing, management, and follow-up guidelines and recommendations, and download helpful tools including a risk-stratification worksheet and a management algorithm

Explore events and conferences in your area and around the country

Get answers to reimbursement, ordering, and billing questions, and download letters and charts that may help you through the ordering and billing process

Request materials to assist you and your patients in managing their well-differentiated thyroid cancer

Please see the important safety information below.

References

1. American Cancer Society. What are the key statistics for thyroid cancer? Available at http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_4_1X_What_are_the_key_
statistics_for_thyroid_cancer_43.asp?sitearea=. Accessed December 4, 2003.

2. National Cancer Institute. SEER cancer statistics review 1973-1999. Available at http://seer.cancer.gov/csr/1973_1999/sections.html. Accessed July 8, 2002.

3. Tutle RM. Long Term Management and Follow-up in Differentiated Thyroid Cancer. Endocrine Surgery of the Head and Neck. co-edited by Phillip K. Pelliteri and Thomas Vincent McCaffrey; DelMar Publishing: Albany, NY. 2003: Chapter 25: 227-234.

4. Robbins R, Drucker W, Hann L, Tuttle RM. Advances in the detection of residual thyroid carcinoma. In: Pellitteri P, ed. Endocrine Surgery of the Head and Neck. 1st ed. San Diego, California: Singular Publishing Group;2001:277-294.

5. Mazzaferri EL, Kloos RT. Is diagnostic iodine-131 scanning with recombinant human TSH useful in the follow-up of differentiated thyroid cancer after thyroid ablation? J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2002;87:1490-1498.