The role of radioactive iodine in the treatment of Hürthle cell carcinoma of the thyroid.

Abstract

It is generally believed that Hürthle cell thyroid carcinoma (HCTC) does not accumulate radioactive iodine (RAI). The aim of our retrospective study was to find out if, after thyroid surgery and RAI ablation of the thyroid remnant, the metastatic or recurrent HCTC accumulates RAI. We reviewed the charts of 48 patients with histopathologically verified HCTC, who were treated at the Institute of Oncology in Ljubljana, Slovenia, from 1972 to 2000. In 16 patients (11 women, five men; 47-77 years old), who had distant metastases at presentation (eight patients) or recurrence (eight patients), whole-body RAI scanning was performed after the withdrawal of thyroid hormone replacement. Whenever RAI uptake was confirmed, the therapy with 5.6 GBq of RAI was performed. In 11 of 16 patients, the uptake (range 0.1-12%) of RAI was confirmed. Altogether, 46 therapeutic applications of RAI were given. We conclude that whole-body scanning with RAI should be performed in HCTC. RAI may be effective in the treatment of HCTC.

• Authors: Nikola Besic, Barbara Vidergar-Kralj, Snjezana Frkovic-Grazio, Tadeja Movrin-Stanovnik, Marija Auersperg
• Journal: Thyroid : official journal of the American Thyroid Association (Thyroid) Vol. 13 Issue 6 Pg. 577-84 (Jun 2003) ISSN: 1050-7256 [Print] United States
• PMID: 12930602 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Iodine Radioisotopes
• Radiopharmaceuticals

Topics

• Adenoma, Oxyphilic (metabolism, pathology, radiotherapy)
• Aged
• Combined Modality Therapy
• Disease Progression
• Female
• Follow-Up Studies
• Humans
• Iodine Radioisotopes (pharmacokinetics, therapeutic use)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Neoplasm Metastasis
• Neoplasm Recurrence, Local
• Radiopharmaceuticals (pharmacokinetics, therapeutic use)
• Retrospective Studies
• Survival Rate
• Thyroid Neoplasms (metabolism, pathology, radiotherapy)
• Treatment Outcome