Limited English Proficiency and Graves' Disease at an Urban Safety Net Hospital.

Introduction: Decision-making regarding definitive therapy for Graves' disease requires effective patient-provider communication. We investigated whether patients with limited English proficiency have differences in thyroidectomy outcomes or perioperative management when compared to English proficient (EP) patients at a safety net hospital with high-volume endocrine surgery practice.

Methods: Retrospective study of patients who underwent thyroidectomy (2012-2021) for Graves' disease within a tertiary referral system.

Prospective Study of a System-Wide Adrenal Incidentaloma Quality Improvement Initiative.

Background: Appropriate follow-up of incidental adrenal masses (IAMs) is infrequent. We implemented a quality improvement (QI) program to improve management of IAMs.

Study Design: This system-wide initiative targeted primary care providers (PCPs) after IAM detection.

False-positive Imaging for Papillary Thyroid Cancer Caused by Intraosseous Hemangiomas.

Two patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma and an elevated thyroglobulin had false-positive imaging studies from intraosseous hemangiomas (IH). A 62-year-old man presented with a palpable lytic skull mass suspicious for a bone metastasis after computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans. Surgical excision confirmed an IH.

A Standardized Radiology Template Improves Incidental Adrenal Mass Follow-Up: A Prospective Effectiveness and Implementation Study.

Purpose: Incidental adrenal masses (IAMs) are common but rarely evaluated. To improve this, we developed a standardized radiology report recommendation template and investigated its implementation and effectiveness.

Methods: We prospectively studied implementation of a standardized IAM reporting template as part of an ongoing quality improvement initiative, which also included primary care provider (PCP) notifications and a straightforward clinical algorithm.

Limited disease progression in endocrine surgery patients with treatment delays due to COVID-19.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic profoundly impacted the delivery of care and timing of elective surgical procedures. Most endocrine-related operations were considered elective and safe to postpone, providing a unique opportunity to assess clinical outcomes under protracted treatment plans.

Methods: American Association of Endocrine Surgeon members were surveyed for participation.

Comparative Accuracy of ICD-9 vs ICD-10 Codes for Acute Appendicitis.

Background: ICD codes are used to identify patients with appendicitis and to classify disease severity for reimbursement and research purposes. We sought to compare the accuracy of ICD-9 vs ICD-10 codes in classifying appendicitis as uncomplicated vs complicated (defined as perforated, necrotic, or abscess) compared with the clinical gold standard: surgeon characterization of the appendix in the operative report.

Study Design: This is a retrospective review of operative reports and discharge ICD-9/10 codes for patients 18 years or older who underwent noninterval, nonincidental appendectomy from January 2012 to December 2019 at a tertiary referral center.

Incidental Adrenal Masses: Adherence to Guidelines and Methods to Improve Initial Follow-Up: A Systematic Review.

Objective: Incidental adrenal masses (IAMs) are detected in approximately 1%-2% of abdominal computed tomography (CT) scans. Recent estimates suggest that more than 70-million relevant CT scans are performed annually in the United States; thus, IAMs represent a significant clinical entity. Most clinical guidelines recommend an initial follow-up evaluation that includes imaging and biochemical testing after index IAM detection.

Perspectives on virtual interviews-A follow-up study of the Comprehensive Endocrine Surgery Fellowship interview process.

Background: The American Association of Endocrine Surgeons Comprehensive Endocrine Surgery Fellowship interview stakeholders previously favored in-person interviews, despite time and expense. This study assessed perception changes given mandated virtual interviews because of coronavirus disease 2019.

Methods: Immediately after the 2020 Match, anonymous surveys were distributed to applicants (n = 37) and program directors (n = 22).

Strategies to optimize management of incidental radiographic findings in the primary care setting: A mixed methods study.

Background: Incidental adrenal masses (IAMs) are common. Primary care providers (PCPs) are frequently responsible for incidentaloma evaluations. We evaluated whether PCPs view this paradigm effective, barriers faced, and strategies to optimize care delivery.

Management Strategies to Promote Follow-Up Care for Incidental Findings: A Scoping Review.

Background: Incidentalomas, or unexpectedly identified masses, are frequently identified in diagnostic imaging studies. Incidentalomas may require timely follow-up care to determine if they are benign, disease-causing, or malignant lesions; however, many incidentalomas do not receive diagnostic workup. The most effective strategies to manage incidentalomas and optimal metrics for judging the efficacy of these strategies remain unclear.

A Web Application for Adrenal Incidentaloma Identification, Tracking, and Management Using Machine Learning.

Background: Incidental radiographic findings, such as adrenal nodules, are commonly identified in imaging studies and documented in radiology reports. However, patients with such findings frequently do not receive appropriate follow-up, partially due to the lack of tools for the management of such findings and the time required to maintain up-to-date lists. Natural language processing (NLP) is capable of extracting information from free-text clinical documents and could provide the basis for software solutions that do not require changes to clinical workflows.

Optimizing the fellowship interview process: Perspectives from applicants and program directors of the comprehensive endocrine surgery fellowship program.

Background: Approximately 80% of general surgery residents undertake some form of fellowship training. Our objective was to characterize goals and burdens of the interview process among applicants to Comprehensive Endocrine Surgery Fellowship programs.

Methods: Participants included trainees from 2013 to 2019.

Noninvasive Follicular Thyroid Neoplasm with Papillary-Like Nuclear Features: Epidemiology and Long-Term Outcomes in a Strictly Defined Cohort.

A subset of encapsulated/circumscribed follicular variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma (FVPTC) was reclassified as noninvasive follicular thyroid neoplasm with papillary-like nuclear features (NIFTP) in 2016 to reduce overtreatment of a low-risk tumor. Study objectives were to describe the epidemiology and long-term outcomes of NIFTP in a high-volume, urban, tertiary referral center. Among patients enrolled in the Boston Medical Center (BMC) Thyroid Cancer Registry, 110 cases of FVPTC underwent index thyroid surgery at BMC between 2000 and 2016.