Timing of Radioactive Iodine Administration Does Not Influence Outcomes in Patients with Differentiated Thyroid Carcinoma

Abstract

Timing of RAI does not seem to interfere with the disease outcomes in DTC and can therefore be safely planned while taking into account the health system logistics.

Impact of delayed radioiodine therapy in intermediate‐/high‐risk papillary thyroid carcinoma

“…Scheffel et al demonstrated that the time between total thyroidectomy and RAIT does not interfere with the response to initial therapy, disease status at follow‐up and recurrence rate in patients with DTC. In their study, 45% and 13% of patients were at intermediate and high risk, respectively . Suman et al also showed that the timing of first post‐thyroidectomy RAIT did not affect survival in a propensity score‐matched cohort with high‐risk PTC using National Cancer Database.…”

“…While assessing the impact of the timing of the first post-thyroidectomy RAIT is critical for planning treatment for patients requiring this therapeutic modality, it remains unclear whether early RAI administration after thyroidectomy is associated with better clinical outcomes. [6][7][8][9][10] Consequently, the current guidelines lack definite recommendations regarding the optimal time for RAI administration after surgery. 1,11 The time of initiating the first post-thyroidectomy RAI varies worldwide and may be affected by personal, social-environmental and disease-related factors.…”

“…6 The impact of early and late first RAIT after thyroidectomy on clinical outcomes in patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC) has rarely been reported and remains controversial. [6][7][8][9][10]12 Several studies have shown no difference in disease outcomes between early and delayed RAIT, suggesting that the first post-thyroidectomy RAI administration may be safely planned according to the logistics of the local health system as well as patients. [6][7][8][9]12 On the other hand, one retrospective study reported that delayed first post-thyroidectomy RAIT may result in poor survival for patients with DTC compared with early RAIT.…”

“…[6][7][8][9][10]12 Several studies have shown no difference in disease outcomes between early and delayed RAIT, suggesting that the first post-thyroidectomy RAI administration may be safely planned according to the logistics of the local health system as well as patients. [6][7][8][9]12 On the other hand, one retrospective study reported that delayed first post-thyroidectomy RAIT may result in poor survival for patients with DTC compared with early RAIT. 10 However, the impact of the timing of the first post-thyroidectomy RAIT is not comparable between studies because most patients had low-risk DTCs that are not routinely recommended for RAIT.…”

“…10 However, the impact of the timing of the first post-thyroidectomy RAIT is not comparable between studies because most patients had low-risk DTCs that are not routinely recommended for RAIT. 1,[6][7][8]12 In addition, most previous studies examined clinical outcomes based on survival, not recurrence. [7][8][9][10]12 In the present study, we evaluated the impact of timing of the first post-thyroidectomy RAIT in intermediate-to-high-risk patients with PTC who were candidates for RAIT.…”