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November 2009
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Dear Friend of the ATA,
The ATA Friends group has grown significantly over the past few years. We would like to know what you think about several initiatives that we are considering:
1. social media participation
2. subscription to Clinical Thyroidology for Patients
3. organizing regional support groups
4. participating in fundraising events
Please let us know your thoughts. Thanks for taking the survey which should not take more than 5-7 minutes.
Click Here to take survey
Best regards,
Bobbi Smith, CAE Executive Director
American Thyroid Association
6066 Leesburg Pike, Suite 550
Falls Church, VA 22041 |
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Clinical Thyroidology for Patients
Up- to-date information to help you understand thyroid disease through the latest research.
IN THIS ISSUE, STUDIES ASK THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS:
-- How effective of the new cancer drug, Sorafenib, in treating advanced, metastatic thyroid cancer?
-- Is the severe side effect of Methimazole-induced agranulocytosis dose-related?
-- What ultrasound features separate benign from cancerous thyroid nodules?
-- What are the risk factors for cancer recurrence in patients with papillary microcarcinoma?
-- What is the role of ultrasound-guided biopsy in the evaluation of thyroid nodules in children and adolescents?
We welcome your feedback and suggestions. Please follow this link to let us know what you want to see in this publication. I hope you find these summaries interesting and informative.
— Alan Farwell, MD
Clinical Thyroidology for Patients August 2009 Volume 2 Issue 4
THYROID CANCER While most patients with thyroid cancer do well and do not die from their cancer, a small number of patients are not cured with the usual regimen of surgery and radioactive iodine and have cancers that spread and continue to grow. In the past, there was little to offer these unfortunate patients as there had been no effective chemotherapy drugs. Sorafanib is a new drug that has been shown to have some effect on metastatic thyroid cancer that does not respond to radioactive iodine. This study reports the results of a Phase II clinical trial of Sorafenib in patients with metastatic thyroid cancer.
ANTI-THYROID MEDICATION Methimazole is an antithyroid medication that is frequently used to treat hyperthyroidism due to Graves’ disease. Methimazole is usually a well-tolerated and safe drug, but on rare occasions, serious side effects can occur. The most serious side effect is called agranulocytosis, which may occur in 1 in 500 – 1000 patients. This is when the number of infection-fighting white blood cells in the blood decreases and cause the patient to be more likely to get an infection. This study attempts to see if agranulocytosis is more common in patients on 30 mg of Methimazole as compared to 15 mg of the drug.
THYROID NODULES Thyroid nodules are extremely common in adults, occurring in about half of the population according to some studies. Since about 5% of thyroid nodules are cancer, it is important to determine which nodules should undergo a fine needle aspiration biopsy. Guidelines developed by the American Thyroid Association indicate that the best way to initially evaluate thyroid nodules is to perform an ultrasound examination of the thyroid. This study examines what ultrasound features are most helpful in selecting which nodules should be biopsied and which nodules are more likely to be benign (non-cancerous).
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THYROID CANCER Papillary microcarcinoma is a form of thyroid cancer where the cancer is very small (<1 cm). Since very few patients with Papillary microcarcinoma will die from their cancer, it is not clear how aggressive treatment should be for these patients. In larger thyroid cancers, there are features of the cancer that are known risk factors for recurrence of the cancer. This study looked at how common one or more of these findings were found in papillary microcarcinomas and whether these risk factors were associated with cancer recurrence in these smaller cancers.
THYROID NODULES Thyroid nodules occur in about 1–2% of children and adolescents. Fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) is a procedure commonly used to evaluate patients with thyroid nodules to determine if these nodules are cancerous. Some studies in adults have shown that when FNAB is done with the help of an ultrasound machine (US-FNAB), the accuracy is better than if the sample is obtained guided only by palpation of the nodule. No information is available regarding the usefulness of this method in children. This study looks at the value of US-FNAB in the evaluation and treatment of children with thyroid nodules.
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ATA Alliance for Patient Education
The goal of our organizations is to provide accurate and reliable information for patients about the diagnosis, evaluation and treatment of thyroid diseases.
UPCOMING MEETINGS
| DATE |
EVENT |
PLACE |
ORGANIZATION |
October 16-18, 2009 |
|
Boston, MA |
ThyCa |
October
16-18, 2009 |
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Charlotte, NC |
Graves’ Disease Foundation |
October 21, 2009 |
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New York, NY |
Light of Life |
More upcoming Alliance meetings>>
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 Make your tax deductible gift to the American Thyroid Association Now!
Support valuable patient education and crucial thyroid research. Improved prevention, diagnosis and treatment can give you a new lease on life!
Why the American Thyroid Association? Because the ATA is dedicated to improving the lives of the millions of Americans of all ages living with thyroid problems. The ATA is strongly committed to serving as a resource for the public by promoting the prevention, treatment, and cure of thyroid-related diseases.
Your tax-deductible contribution helps to support valuable patient education and ground-breaking thyroid research – two of our primary goals – with the belief that new discoveries and better understanding will translate into improved ways to prevent, diagnose, and treat thyroid disease.
$10, $15, or $25 from each and every one of the Friends of the ATA will make a significant difference in what is possible from educational, scientific and research programs sponsored by the ATA.
Make your gift to the American Thyroid Association and honor the patient in your life.
Donate Online today, and thank you for your help!
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American Thyroid Association
6066 Leesburg Pike
Suite 550
Falls Church, Virginia 22041
e-mail: thyroid@thyroid.org
web site: www.thyroid.org
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