Low-dose remnant ablation in differentiated thyroid carcinoma: a single-center experience

This study is aimed to assess the effectiveness of low-dose remnant ablation with 30 mCi of I-131 in differentiated thyroid carcinoma patients. Patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma who underwent low-dose remnant ablation with 30 mCi of I-131 between 2014 and 2017 were analyzed retrospectively. Pretreatment and first follow-up radioiodine whole-body scans and serum thyroglobulin levels were compared. A total of 42 patients had undergone remnant ablation with 30 mCi of I-131 and had their first follow-up data available. Median age was 35 and male to female ratio was 1:13. Histopathology reports of these patients were classical variant of papillary carcinoma of thyroid - 64%, follicular variant of papillary carcinoma of thyroid - 28%, minimally invasive follicular carcinoma - 5%, and papillary microcarcinoma - 3%. Complete resolution of remnant at first follow-up scan was seen in 50% of patients. Median serum thyroglobulin levels at pretreatment and first follow-up were 7.8 and 2.5, respectively. Low-dose remnant ablation in differentiated thyroid carcinoma is an effective adjuvant therapy following surgery. Fifty percent of patients were iodine scan negative in the first follow-up with complete resolution of disease. Patients can be treated on ambulatory basis with low cost and low absorbed dose. (author)