 |
Tipper Gore's Thyroid Surgery Heightens Public Awareness, Says American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists |
 |
More Than a Third of All Women Will Be Found To Have At
Least One Thyroid Nodule
JACKSONVILLE, Fla., Dec. 29 /PRNewswire/ -- Richard A. Dickey, MD, FACP, FACE, President of the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE) stated today that Tipper Gore's thyroid surgery has increased awareness of thyroid nodules and thyroid cancer. Mrs. Gore, wife of Vice President Al Gore, underwent surgery yesterday for the removal of a nodule from her thyroid gland. Doctors discovered the thyroid nodule during a routine medical examination. The nodule, or lump, was removed and will be tested for cancer.Results may take two weeks to be released. AACE published the AACE Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Management of Thyroid Nodules in 1996 (available at www.aace.com) to increase the understanding and awareness of the diagnosis and management of thyroid nodules. According to the guidelines, nodular thyroid disease is extremely common: a 5 to 10% lifetime risk exists for developing a thyroid nodule which can be felt. Some of these are cancerous. Over 12,000 cases of thyroid cancer are diagnosed annually in the United States (0.004% of the population), but thyroid cancer-related deaths are rare. The experienced clinical endocrinologist is familiar with the diagnosis and management of thyroid nodules. Clinical endocrinologists receive specialized training in order to distinguish a normal from a goitrous or nodular thyroid. This training helps endocrinologists determine the diagnostic tests which may be needed.AACE has been dedicated since 1995 to increasing the awareness of thyroid disorders through its annual thyroid awareness month each January, which is distinguished as Thyroid Awareness Month. Past thyroid initiatives have included "Unmasking the Thyroid Disease: A Thyroid Health Initiative," "Stick Your Neck Out, America," "Thyroid Blues," and "Thyroid the Missing T in HRT."AACE will once again launch this important initiative in January. Materials for the 2000 campaign will be released on January 18, 2000. The AACE "Neck Check(TM)" has served as a centerpiece of its thyroid awareness initiative. The "Neck Check(TM)" is a simple self-examination that helps Americans recognize an enlarged thyroid gland or nodule. The "Neck Check(TM)" can be accessed through the AACE web site at www.aace.com or by sending a self-addressed, stamped (33-cent), number 10 envelope to AACE, Neck Check(TM), 1000 Riverside Ave., Suite 205, Jacksonville, FL 32204. AACE is a professional medical organization with over 3,400 members in the United States and 50 other countries. Founded in 1991, AACE is dedicated to the optimal care of patients with endocrine problems. AACE conducts continuing education programs for clinical endocrinologists, physicians whose advanced, specialized training enables them to be experts in the care of endocrine disease, such as thyroid disorders, diabetes, growth hormone deficiency, osteoporosis, cholesterol disorders, hypertension and obesity. For further information on thyroid and other endocrine disorders, AACE guidelines or past thyroid initiatives visit the AACE web site atSOURCE: American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists WEB SITE: http://www.aace.com/ |
This press release may not be redistributed without prior written approval by PR Newswire. |
|
| Posted December 29, 1999. |