Helping patients avoid unnecessary thyroid scans
De-implementation of inappropriate thyroid ultrasound
This project aims to help healthcare systems reduce the number of thyroid ultrasounds that are not truly needed, which can prevent overdiagnosis and overtreatment of thyroid cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R37 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Mayo Clinic Rochester NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Rochester, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11115569 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Inappropriate thyroid ultrasounds can lead to finding small thyroid cancers that might never cause harm, resulting in unnecessary treatments like surgery and long-term medication. These treatments can cause stress, financial burden, and other health issues for patients. This project wants to find better ways for doctors and hospitals to identify when a thyroid ultrasound is truly needed and when it might be better to avoid one. By doing so, we hope to protect patients from the downsides of overdiagnosis and overtreatment.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This work is relevant for anyone concerned about thyroid health, particularly those who might be offered a thyroid ultrasound when they don't have clear symptoms.
Not a fit: Patients who have already been diagnosed with aggressive thyroid cancer or those who clearly need a thyroid ultrasound for specific symptoms may not directly benefit from this particular effort to reduce inappropriate scans.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help many people avoid unnecessary medical procedures, reduce anxiety, and save them from the financial and health burdens of overdiagnosis and overtreatment for thyroid cancer.
How similar studies have performed: While the problem of overdiagnosis is recognized, this project aims to develop new, systematic strategies for health systems to identify and reduce inappropriate thyroid ultrasounds, which has not been widely studied or implemented.
Where this research is happening
Rochester, United States
- Mayo Clinic Rochester — Rochester, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Brito Campana, Juan P — Mayo Clinic Rochester
- Study coordinator: Brito Campana, Juan P
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.