A proportionately lower number of black patients received surgery for differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) than whites, according to a study involving more than 282,000 individuals. Additionally, radioactive iodine (RAI) therapy overtreatment increased for all races analyzed.

Investigators looked at frequency of thyroidectomy and RAI therapy by race in participants with DTC. Among the results:

• Blacks were 22% less likely to receive appropriate surgery vs whites.

• Blacks were 7% more likely to receive appropriate RAI treatment, whereas Hispanics were 10% less likely to be treated with such.
• Blacks, Hispanics, and Asians were more likely to received RAI undertreatment, and less likely to be overtreated.
• Over the course of the study, a rising proportion of blacks and whites underwent appropriate thyroidectomy.
• Compared with 1998 treatment, fewer patients in 2012 were undertreated with RAI.
• The extent of RAI overtreatment increased over time.