Variations in clinicopathologic characteristics of thyroid cancer among racial ethnic groups: analysis of a large public city hospital and the SEER database

Abstract

Background: Clinicopathologic variables influence the treatment and prognosis of patients with thyroid cancer.

Methods: A retrospective analysis of public hospital thyroid cancer database and the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results 17 database was conducted. Demographic, clinical, and pathologic data were compared across ethnic groups.

Results: Within the public hospital database, Hispanics versus non-Hispanic whites were younger and had more lymph node involvement (34% vs 17%, P < .001). Median tumor size was not statistically different across ethnic groups. Similar findings were demonstrated within the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results database. African Americans aged <45 years had the largest tumors but were least likely to have lymph node involvement. Asians had the most stage IV disease despite having no differences in tumor size, lymph node involvement, and capsular invasion.

Conclusions: There is considerable variability in the clinical presentation of thyroid cancer across ethnic groups. Such disparities persist within an equal-access health care system. These findings suggest that factors beyond socioeconomics may contribute to such differences.

Keywords: Cancer; Disparities; Ethnic; Minority; Thyroid.