Patients with thyroid cancer and the specialists involved in their treatment require reference units in the National Health System to avoid sequelae that arise from a poor approach, especially in the surgeries that are required for their treatment. This Saturday, September 28, is celebrated The National Day of this pathology of which more than 5,000 new cases are expected this year, according to data from the Spanish Network of Cancer Registries (REDECAN).
The creation of specialized units in thyroid cancer that can address the most complex cases, facilitating their referral, is one of these urgent needs. In this sense, the accreditation of the professionals who operate these patients is essential for patients and specialists: it is demonstrated that the key to success in treatment begins with excellent surgery, which prevents sequelae. In this regard, the Spanish Society of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery (SEORL-CCC) “has published two consensus that aims to reduce the complications of this surgery on voice and calcium metabolism and will present at its next National Congress early October, an accreditation protocol for Specialized Units in Thyroid Surgery, ”explains its president of International Relations, Dr. Pablo Parente.
From the Spanish Association of Surgeons (AEC), the coordinator of its Endocrine Surgery Section, Dr. Joaquín Gómez, recalls that “in the last European Congress of Endocrine Surgery, the accreditation of reference units in Endocrine Surgery was treated exclusively ” “We have already published a consensus in one of the most important international journals in endocrine pathology and, since the ACS, the model is being finalized to certify all professionals who dedicate themselves to this pathology,” he adds.
In addition, the implementation and coordination of multidisciplinary teams for the clinical approach to thyroid cancer in reference hospitals is guaranteed. In this sense, the Spanish Society of Endocrinology and Nutrition (SEEN) develops and guarantees training in this pathology, promotes the development of multidisciplinary teams and has worked with the Ministry of Health on the definition and criteria for the designation of centers, services and reference units (CSUR) for this complex pathology. “It is essential that the procedures to speed up these CSURs be launched from the Ministry of Health to improve equity, concentrate the experience of high level of specialization and thus improve the care for this disease,” explains Dr. Elena Navarro, coordinator of the Thyroid Knowledge Area of the SEEN.