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Background

Most patients with differentiated thyroid cancer are treated with radioiodine (131-I) after thyroidectomy. The characteristics predictive of successful remnant ablation with low activities of 131-I are ill defined and could help stratify patients into those who should receive higher activities.

Methods

In a case series of 193 consecutive patients with papillary thyroid cancer who underwent total thyroidectomy and received 30 mCi (1110 MBq) of 131-I, we assessed the percentage of successful radioremnant ablation as defined by a composite of scintigraphic and biochemical endpoints. Clinical, histological, scintigraphic, and biochemical covariables were analyzed to identify associations with treatment failure.

Results

Successful radioremnant ablation with low-activity 131-I was obtained in 78% of the entire cohort of patients. The presence of limited microscopic extrathyroidal extension, nodal micrometastases, or an …