The United Kingdom thyroid multi-disciplinary team: A national survey of services and comparison to guidelines.

Abstract

We have identified ambiguity in the current guidance on thyroid MDT's, and have also found nationwide variation in compliance with this. We recommend: All thyroid surgeons should complete a minimum of 20 thyroid procedures per year, and this should also form part of surgeons' annual appraisal. All surgeons should contribute data to UKRETS (unless prevented by local legal frameworks) and this should form part of surgeons' annual appraisal and be audited by individual MDT's and regional cancer networks. Thyroid MDT's should be held weekly where possible, with a minimum frequency of fortnightly. The core membership of thyroid MDT's (stand alone and joint) should include thyroid surgeons, specialist radiology, endocrinology, nuclear medicine, nurse specialists, histopathology +/- cytology and clinical oncology.