Abstract:

Objective To observe the efficacy of radioactive iodine (¹³¹I) thyroid remnant ablation in patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC) after partial thyroidectomy. Methods The clinical data of 103 patients with ¹³¹I thyroid remnant ablation after DTC were retrospectively analysed. Patients were divided into partial thyroidectomy group （n=33）and complete thyroidectomy group （n=70）according to the findings of thyroid planar imaging. The first ablation dose was 1.11—3.7 GBq (30—100 mCi). Diagnostic ¹³¹I whole body scan was used to evaluate the efficacy of ablation 3 to 6 months later. If no visible radioactive uptake in thyroid bed was found, the ablation was defined to be complete. Otherwise, the ablation was defined to be partial, and patients needed a second or third dose of ¹³¹I with routine follow-up. Results After the first, second and third ablation, the rates of complete ablation in complete thyroidectomy group were 61.43%, 88.89% and 100%, and those in partial thyroidectomy group were 21.21%, 46.15% and 78.57%. There was no significant difference between the efficacy of the first and second ablation in complete thyroidectomy group and that of the second and third ablation in partial thyroidectomy group (P>0.05). Conclusion The efficacy of ¹³¹I thyroid remnant ablation in patients with DTC after partial thyroidectomy may not be favourable at the first dose, while a high rate of complete ablation can be achieved at the second or third dose.

Key words: differentiated thyroid carcinoma, thyroidectomy, radioiodine, thyroid remnant ablation