RAI therapy in low-risk papillary thyroid cancer: recurrence reduction and long-term outcomes in the Turkish population

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Bilgic S., Meral R., Sağer M. S., Sonmezoglu K.

BMC CANCER, vol.24, no.1, 2024 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 24 Issue: 1
  • Publication Date: 2024
  • Doi Number: 10.1186/s12885-024-12986-0
  • Journal Name: BMC CANCER
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, Academic Search Premier, CINAHL, EMBASE, MEDLINE, Veterinary Science Database, Directory of Open Access Journals
  • Open Archive Collection: AVESIS Open Access Collection
  • Bursa Uludag University Affiliated: No

Abstract

Purpose Papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) is the most common thyroid malignancy, characterized by its slow progression and favorable prognosis. This study re-evaluates the efficacy of radioactive iodine (RAI) therapy versus no RAI in low-risk PTC patients following total thyroidectomy. Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on 588 patients treated between 2010 and 2016 at a major tertiary center in Turkey. Patients were divided into two cohorts: those receiving total thyroidectomy (TT) with high-dose RAI (100 mCi) and those receiving TT alone. A matched cohort of 138 patients per group was analyzed to minimize bias. Results Follow-up data indicated that at 24 months, the RAI group demonstrated a higher percentage of excellent treatment responses (86%) compared to the non-RAI group (74%). Long-term follow-up showed that 99.3% of the RAI group achieved no evidence of disease (NED), versus 90.6% in the non-RAI group. Recurrence rates were significantly lower in the RAI group (1%) compared to the non-RAI group (5.8% with a > 2.0 ng/ml cut-off for biological events). Conclusion In summary, the findings from this study underscore the efficacy of RAI therapy in reducing recurrence rates and enhancing long-term disease control in low-risk papillary thyroid cancer patients. While total thyroidectomy alone is effective, the addition of RAI therapy provides a marked improvement in treatment responses and reduces the risk of disease recurrence. This indicates that personalized treatment plans incorporating RAI may offer significant advantages in managing low-risk PTC.