A regional site-specific thyroid cancer group was set up in northeast England in 1993. Following the Calman-Hine report in 1995, this group became part of The Northern Cancer Network, which co-ordinates cancer services for North Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear and North Durham The Group's remit was to develop regional guidelines for the management of thyroid cancer and a minimum core dataset for regular audit. The main objective was to improve and standardise thyroid cancer management.
The thyroid cancer group is multidisciplinary, with representation from relevant clinical subspecialties. A guidelines subgroup vitas established in 1996. Draft guidelines were prepared by members from the surgical, clinical oncology. endocrinology and medical physics departments. Multidisciplinary guidelines were distilled from these and sent to all members of the group for wider consultation. The search methodology was based on published guidelines, reviews, expert opinions, consensus development conferences, large retrospective and observational studies. Clinical trials are rare in this disease. Evidence is available at levels 2 and 3 of AHCPR 1994. Therefore the recommendations are grades B and C. An extensive literature search following the methodology advised by NICE and SIGN was subsequently carried out. The guidelines were sent to national experts outside the group for comment before preparation of the final version. This guideline is scheduled for review in March 2001.
Regional Thyroid Cancer Group. Northern Cancer Network Guidelines for Management of Thyroid Cancer. Clinical Oncology (2000)12:373-391.
Professor E. David Williams, Sunderland Unit, Sunderland. Tel: +44 (0)191-569-9035.
Regional Medical Physics Department, Freeman Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE7 7DN, UK.
Tel: +44 (0)191-233-6161 E-mail: webmaster@rmpd.org.uk Web: http://www.rmpd.org.uk
By using this site you agree to our Terms and Conditions of Use. Please read our legal page.
Regional Medical Physics Department, a Clinical Directorate of the Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
Copyright ©1999-2008 All Rights Reserved. Revised 7 November, 2008.
