Technical Standards for Thyroid Cancer Surgery

This forum will discuss evidence-based operative standards for the performance of thyroid cancer surgery as outlined in the Operative Standards for Cancer Surgery, Volume 2. This will include review of technical standards and the rationale supporting these recommendations. The discussion will include insights into clinical management of thyroid cancer through case study review.

At the completion of the activity, participants should be able to:

• Recognize the key operative standards for thyroidectomy and lymphadenectomy endorsed by the American College of Surgeons Cancer Research Program and Cancer Surgery Standards Program.
• Illustrate evidence-based rationale for these standards and how they impact patient outcomes.
• Demonstrate competence in the description of technical aspects of the operative standards.
• Apply insight into contemporary thyroid cancer management.

In accordance with the ACCME Accreditation Criteria, the American College of Surgeons must ensure that anyone in a position to control the content of the educational activity (planners and speakers/authors/discussants/moderators) has disclosed all financial relationships with any commercial interest (termed by the ACCME as “ineligible companies”, defined below) held in the last 24 months (see below for definitions). Please note that first authors were required to collect and submit disclosure information on behalf of all other authors/contributors, if applicable.

• Ineligible Company: The ACCME defines an “ineligible company” as any entity producing, marketing, re-selling, or distributing health care goods or services used on or consumed by patients. Providers of clinical services directly to patients are NOT included in this definition.
• Financial Relationships: Relationships in which the individual benefits by receiving a salary, royalty, intellectual property rights, consulting fee, honoraria, ownership interest (e.g., stocks, stock options or other ownership interest, excluding diversified mutual funds), or other financial benefit. Financial benefits are usually associated with roles such as employment, management position, independent contractor (including contracted research), consulting, speaking and teaching, membership on advisory committees or review panels, board membership, and other activities from which remuneration is received, or expected. ACCME considers relationships of the person involved in the CME activity to include financial relationships of a spouse or partner.
• Conflict of Interest: Circumstances create a conflict of interest when an individual has an opportunity to affect CME content about products or services of an ineligible company with which he/she has a financial relationship.

The ACCME also requires that ACS manage any reported conflict and eliminate the potential for bias during the educational activity. Any conflicts noted below have been managed to our satisfaction. The disclosure information is intended to identify any commercial relationships and allow learners to form their own judgments. However, if you perceive a bias during the educational activity, please report it on the evaluation.

Elizabeth (Libby) Grubbs, MD, FACS - Researcher at Eli Lily and Exelixis, Institution receives grant funding

Tracy Wang, MD, FACS- Nothing to disclose

Julie McGill, MD, FACS- Nothing to disclose

David Hughes, MD, FACS- Nothing to disclose

Linwah Yip, MD, FACS- Nothing to disclose

Mark Zafereo, MD, FACS- Clinical trials principal investigator at Merck and Eli Lily, Institution receives grant finding

Timothy Vreeland, MD, FACS- Consultant at Lumabridge, Hourly consulting fee

Amanda Francescatti, MS- Nothing to disclose

Elizabeth Funk, MSW- Nothing to disclose