131I therapy of differentiated thyroid cancer metastases

25 patients with metastases from differentiated papillary, follicular and mixed thyroid cancer were treated with 131I after surgery. These patients all demonstrated some concentration of 131I within their metastatic foci, as seen by 131I whole body imaging. Single doses varying from 3.7∼7.4 GBq were used, depending on extent of the disease and the site(s) of involvement. Total doses of 3.7∼29.6 GBq, average 9.45 GBq, were given for proven metastases. The results showed that metastases as a result of 131I concentration disappeared completely in 12 patients (48%), partly in 9 patients (36.0%) and responded poorly in 4 patients (16.0%) with a total effective rate of 84.0%(21/25). The effective rate was the highest for metastases in the cervical soft tissue, also high for metastases in the lung and the lowest for metastases in the bone