Long-term Quality of Life in Adult Survivors of Pediatric Differentiated Thyroid Carcinoma.

Long-term Quality of Life in Adult Survivors of Pediatric Differentiated Thyroid Carcinoma.

J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2016 Dec 21;:jc20162246

Authors: Nies M, Klein Hesselink MS, Huizinga GA, Sulkers E, Brouwers AH, Burgerhof JG, van Dam EW, Havekes B, van den Heuvel-Eibrink MM, Corssmit EP, Kremer LC, Netea-Maier RT, van der Pal HJ, Peeters RP, Plukker JT, Ronckers CM, van Santen HM, Tissing WJ, Links TP, Bocca G

Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Little is known about long-term quality of life (QoL) of survivors of pediatric differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC). Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate generic health-related QoL (HRQoL), fatigue, anxiety, and depression in adult survivors of pediatric DTC compared with matched controls, and to evaluate thyroid cancer-specific HRQoL in survivors only.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: Adult survivors of pediatric DTC, diagnosed between 1970-2013 at age <18 years were included. Exclusion criteria were a follow-up <5 years, attained age <18 years or diagnosis of DTC as a second malignant neoplasm. Controls were matched by age, gender, and socio-economic status. Survivors and controls were asked to complete three questionnaires (SF-36(HRQoL), MFI-20 (fatigue) and HADS(anxiety/depression)). Survivors were also asked to complete the THYCA-QoL (thyroid cancer-specific HRQoL).
RESULTS: Sixty-seven survivors and 56 controls were included. Median age of survivors at evaluation was 34.2 years (range18.8-61.7). Median follow-up was 17.8 years (range 5.0-44.7). On most QoL subscales, scores of survivors and controls did not differ significantly. However, survivors had more physical problems (P =.031), role limitations due to physical problems (P =.021), and mental fatigue (P =.016) than controls. Some thyroid cancer-specific complaints(e.g. sensory complaints, headache and chilliness) were present in survivors. Unemployment and more extensive disease- or treatment characteristics were most frequently associated with worse QoL.
CONCLUSIONS: Overall, long-term QoL in survivors of pediatric DTC was normal. Survivors experienced impairment of QoL in some domains(physical problems, mental fatigue and various thyroid cancer-specific complaints), but mostly in mild forms. Factors possibly affecting QoL need further exploration.

PMID: 28001468 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

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