Second Primary Malignancies in Thyroid Cancer Patients
Author Information
Author(s): Rubino C, de Vathaire F, Dottorini M E, Hall P, Schvartz C, Couette J E, Dondon M G, Abbas M T, Langlois C, Schlumberger M
Primary Institution: Gustave Roussy Institute
Hypothesis
What is the risk of second cancers and leukaemia in thyroid cancer patients treated with radioiodine?
Conclusion
The study found a significant 30% increased risk of developing a second primary malignancy in thyroid cancer patients treated with radioiodine.
Supporting Evidence
- An overall significantly increased risk of cancer of 27% compared to the general population was observed.
- Significantly increased risks were found for cancers in the digestive tract, bone and soft tissue, skin melanoma, kidney, central nervous system, and leukaemias.
- The risk of second primary malignancies was significantly increased in patients treated with higher cumulative activities of radioiodine.
Takeaway
This study shows that patients who had thyroid cancer and were treated with a specific radioactive treatment have a higher chance of getting another type of cancer later on.
Methodology
A pooled analysis of three large cohorts of thyroid cancer patients from Sweden, Italy, and France was conducted to evaluate the risk of second cancers and leukaemia.
Potential Biases
The study may have residual confounding due to differences in treatment modalities and follow-up practices across cohorts.
Limitations
20% of patients were lost to follow-up, which may affect the results.
Participant Demographics
The cohort included 6841 patients with a mean age of 44 years at diagnosis, with a female to male ratio of approximately 3:1.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.02
Confidence Interval
95% CI: 15–40
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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