Poorly differentiated thyroid carcinoma (PDTC) characteristics and the efficacy of radioactive iodine (RAI) therapy as an adjuvant treatment in a tertiary cancer care center.

Poorly differentiated thyroid carcinoma (PDTC) characteristics and the efficacy of radioactive iodine (RAI) therapy as an adjuvant treatment in a tertiary cancer care center.:

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Poorly differentiated thyroid carcinoma (PDTC) characteristics and the efficacy of radioactive iodine (RAI) therapy as an adjuvant treatment in a tertiary cancer care center.

Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol. 2020 Mar 13;:

Authors: Thiagarajan S, Yousuf A, Shetty R, Dhar H, Mathur Y, Nair D, Basu S, Patil A, Kane S, Ghosh-Laskar S, Chaukar D

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Poorly differentiated thyroid cancer (PDTC) is biologically more aggressive. Surgery remains the mainstay of treatment. The utility of radioactive iodine (RAI) after surgery is unclear.

METHODS: In this retrospective study, patients treated between Jan 2012 and Dec 2017 were included. The demographic, clinical and treatment-related details, including RAI ablation, were recorded and their survival analyzed.

RESULTS: Thirty-five patients fulfilled the eligibility criteria. Majority was treatment naïve at presentation. All patients underwent surgery followed by RAI ablation, with a cumulative median dose of 220 mCi (range 40-1140). Sixteen patients received more than one radioiodine treatment for distant metastases. Incomplete resection, age > 45 years and the presence of distant metastasis influenced survival the most. The 3-year PFS of patients with PDTC was 69%.

CONCLUSION: All patients in our series showed uptake and responded to treatment. Further use of molecular markers and functional molecular imaging would better our understanding of this entity.

PMID: 32170421 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]