Favorable long term results in patients with small differentiated thyroid cancer not treated with radioiodine

Tumori. 1989 Feb 28;75(1):57-9. doi: 10.1177/030089168907500115.

Abstract

Data on a group of 110 patients with differentiated thyroid cancer not treated by radioiodine are reported. Most of them had intrathyroid (stage I) papillary or capsuled follicular cancer of less than 3 cm diameters. They all received thyroxine at TSH suppressive doses. The follow-up ranged between 4 and 25 years, mean 8.7. No patient died of tumor. Two very old patients died free of disease. Four recurrences occurred, within 8 years, all in patients over 45 years, all local or nodal, all papillary, 3 out of 4 after total thyroidectomy. This study shows that radioiodine therapy may be avoided and that lobectomy may be sufficient in patients under 45 years with small papillary or capsuled follicular cancer.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Combined Modality Therapy
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Iodine Radioisotopes / therapeutic use*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Thyroid Neoplasms / therapy*
  • Thyroidectomy

Substances

  • Iodine Radioisotopes