We are inviting patients with thyroid cancer who have chosen to receive total or partial thyroidectomy to participate in a research study examining quality of life and disease recurrence after surgery. Some participants will be randomly assigned to receive total thyroidectomy alone or total thyroidectomy with central neck dissection. Others will receive thyroid surgery per standard of care for their diagnoses. We collect data on complications and symptom experience via relevant medical records, voice evaluations, surveys and in-depth-interviews prior to and throughout one year after thyroid surgery. Our study is ongoing, but analysis of the preliminary data has already led to several papers published in major journals as well as presentations shared at national and international endocrinology, surgery and speech-language pathology meetings.
Research Focus
We focus on gaining knowledge and understanding of the risks and benefits of treatment for endocrine surgical issues as well as other quality of life measures in order to improve quality of care for the endocrine surgery patient population. Our team accomplishes this through mixed methods study design, leveraging clinical, survey and qualitative interview data to paint a full picture of the patient experience before and after surgery.
Dr. Sippel currently collaborates with Dr. Nadine Connor on an NIH-funded clinical trial examining the role of lymph node dissection in papillary thyroid cancer and the impact of extent of surgery on quality of life. Although mortality of thyroid cancer is low, survivors can experience significant complications and changes related to thyroid hormone replacement that can lead to negative side effects for the rest of their lives. The study examines outcomes from patients’ perspectives and defines their complication rates, quality of life measures, and long-term cancer outcomes. This joint project of Drs. Sippel and Connor exemplifies the value of interdisciplinary research.
