scholarly journals Radioiodine treatment of metastatic differentiated thyroid cancer in patients on L-thyroxine, using recombinant human TSH

2001 ◽  
pp. 5-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
F Lippi ◽  
M Capezzone ◽  
F Angelini ◽  
D Taddei ◽  
E Molinaro ◽  
...  

OBJECTIVE: This study tested the hypothesis that administration of human recombinant thyroid-stimulating hormone (rhTSH: Thyrogen, thyrotropin alpha) could promote iodine-131 ((131)I) uptake in the therapy for metastatic or locally invasive differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC), obviating L-thyroxine suppressive therapy (L-T4) withdrawal and hypothyroidism in patients with advanced disease. METHODS: Twelve totally (or almost completely) thyroidectomized adults, nine of whom had received earlier therapy after L-T4 withdrawal, underwent (131)I treatment while euthyroid on L-T4, after rhTSH administration. Nine underwent diagnostic whole-body scanning (WBS) after two consecutive daily i.m. injections (0.9 mg) of rhTSH. They then received an identical second course of rhTSH to promote therapeutic (131)I uptake. Post-therapy WBS was performed one week later. Three patients received only rhTSH (131)I therapy. RESULTS: Administration of rhTSH promoted (131)I uptake in all patients, as demonstrated by post-therapy WBS. Administration of rhTSH also promoted a significant increase in serum thyroglobulin (Tg) concentrations. According to the most recent measurements, 3-12 months after therapy, serum Tg levels fell in four, and stabilized in two out of eleven patients. Upon additional rhTSH-WBS 8 months post-study, a reduction in one metastatic site was noted in one patient. The rhTSH was well tolerated, with mild, transient fever and/or nausea occurring in only a minority of patients. Individuals with bone metastases experienced degrees of peritumoral pain and swelling that were similar (though more short-lived) to those seen in the same or other patients after L-T4 withdrawal. CONCLUSIONS: Administration of rhTSH is a safe, successful tool for inducing (131)I uptake in local and metastatic DTC lesions, and avoids L-T4 withdrawal, preserving metabolic homeostasis and preventing the debilitating effects of hypothyroidism.

2004 ◽  
Vol 150 (5) ◽  
pp. 649-653 ◽  
Author(s):  
H Taylor ◽  
S Hyer ◽  
L Vini ◽  
B Pratt ◽  
G Cook ◽  
...  

OBJECTIVE: To assess the value of the diagnostic whole body (131)I scan after thyroidectomy and (131)I ablation. DESIGN: Retrospective analysis of all patients with differentiated thyroid cancer treated in one centre between 1990 and 2000. RESULTS: A total of 153 consecutive patients who underwent diagnostic scanning following ablative therapy were identified. This diagnostic scan was positive in 20 patients (13%) and faintly positive in 16 patients (11%). The majority (117 patients) had negative scans. Of the 20 patients with positive scans, four received no further treatment, nine showed no abnormal uptake following a second ablative (131)I dose and seven had uptake in the thyroid bed (six) or in neck nodes (one) after repeat ablation. OUTCOME: In the group with positive scans, the four patients who received no further treatment and the nine with a negative second ablation scan remained disease free during follow-up. No patient with a positive diagnostic scan received additional (131)I therapy which would not otherwise have been given based on the clinical findings, serum thyroglobulin (Tg) values or the presence of anti-Tg antibodies. Ten of the patients with negative scans developed recurrent disease which was always detected clinically or by a rising serum Tg value. CONCLUSIONS: Diagnostic whole body (131)I scans add little extra information and in our experience do not influence patient management. They should be reserved for patients in whom serum Tg levels are unreliable because of the presence of antibodies or when there is clinical suspicion of tumour.


2015 ◽  
Vol 173 (3) ◽  
pp. 399-408 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hong-Jun Song ◽  
Zhong-Ling Qiu ◽  
Chen-Tian Shen ◽  
Wei-Jun Wei ◽  
Quan-Yong Luo

ContextData from a large cohort of patients with pulmonary metastases from differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) were retrospectively analyzed.ObjectiveTo assess the effect of radioiodine therapy and investigate the prognostic factors of survival for patients with pulmonary metastasis secondary to DTC.MethodsA total of 372 patients with pulmonary metastasis from DTC treated with131I entered the study. According to the results of131I whole-body scan (WBS), pulmonary metastases were classified as131I-avid and non-131I-avid. For patients with131I-avid lung metastases, treatment response was measured by three parameters: serum thyroglobulin (Tg) levels, chest computed tomography (CT) and post-therapeutic131I-WBS. Overall survival was calculated by the Kaplan–Meier method. Factors predictive of the outcome were determined by multivariate analyses.ResultsAmong patients demonstrating131I-avid pulmonary metastases (256/372, 68.8%), 156 cases (156/256, 60.9%) showed a significant decrease in serum Tg levels after131I therapy and 138 cases (138/229, 60.3%) showed a reduction in pulmonary metastases on follow-up CT. A complete cure, however, was only achieved in 62 cases (62/256, 24.2%). Multivariate analysis showed that only age, the presence of multiple distant metastases and pulmonary metastatic node size were significant independent variables between the groups of131I-avid and non-131I-avid.ConclusionThis study indicated that, most131I-avid pulmonary metastases from DTC can obtain partial or complete remission after131I therapy. Younger patients (<40 years old) with only pulmonary metastases and small (‘fine miliaric’ or micronodular) metastases appear to have relative favorite outcomes. Patients who do not respond to131I treatment have a worse prognosis.


2011 ◽  
Vol 68 (10) ◽  
pp. 891-894
Author(s):  
Aleksandar Filipovic ◽  
Ljiljana Vuckovic ◽  
Milan Mijovic

Introduction. Although follicular thyroid carcinoma is a rare malignant tumor, up to 20% of the patients are threatened by potential complications resulting from infiltrating tumor growth into surrounding tissues. Case report. A 66- year-old female came to hospital with the presence of a growing thyroid nodule of the left lobe. Ultrasonic examination showed a 8 cm hypoechoic nodule in the left lobe. Thyroid scintigraphy showed a cold nodule. CT scan and tracheoscopy showed tracheal infiltration without tracheal obstruction. An extended total thyroidectomy was done, with the left jugular vein, strap muscles and tracheal 2 cm long circular resection. The pathologist confirmed invasive follicular thyroid cancer. After the surgery the patient was treated with radioiodine therapy and permanent TSH suppressive therapy. The patient was followed with measurements of the thyroid hormone and serum thyroglobulin level every six months, as well as the further tests (chest xray, ultrasound of the neck and a whole body scintigraphy) were done. After more than three years the patient had no evidence of the recurrent disease. Conclusion. Radical resection of the tracheal infiltrating thyroid cancer with circular tracheal resection and terminoterminal anastomosis followed by radioiodine therapy should be considered the treatment of choice.


2003 ◽  
Vol 88 (4) ◽  
pp. 1433-1441 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. L. Mazzaferri ◽  
R. J. Robbins ◽  
C. A. Spencer ◽  
L. E. Braverman ◽  
F. Pacini ◽  
...  

Recent studies have provided new information regarding the optimal surveillance protocols for low-risk patients with differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC). This article summarizes the main issues brought out in a consensus conference of thyroid cancer specialists who analyzed and discussed this new data. There is growing recognition of the value of serum thyroglobulin (Tg) as part of routine surveillance. An undetectable serum Tg measured during thyroid hormone suppression of TSH (THST) is often misleading. Eight studies show that 21% of 784 patients who had no clinical evidence of tumor with baseline serum Tg levels usually below 1 μg/liter during THST had, in response to recombinant human TSH (rhTSH), a rise in serum Tg to more than 2 μg/liter. When this happened, 36% of the patients were found to have metastases (36% at distant sites) that were identified in 91% by an rhTSH-stimulated Tg above 2 μg/liter. Diagnostic whole body scanning, after either rhTSH or thyroid hormone withdrawal, identified only 19% of the cases of metastases. Ten studies comprising 1599 patients demonstrate that a TSH-stimulated Tg test using a Tg cutoff of 2 μg/liter (either after thyroid hormone withdrawal or 72 h after rhTSH) is sufficiently sensitive to be used as the principal test in the follow-up management of low-risk patients with DTC and that the routine use of diagnostic whole body scanning in follow-up should be discouraged. On the basis of the foregoing, we propose a surveillance guideline using TSH-stimulated Tg levels for patients who have undergone total or near-total thyroidectomy and 131I ablation for DTC and have no clinical evidence of residual tumor with a serum Tg below 1 μg/liter during THST.


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