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European Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging

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01-04-2011 | Original Article

The absorbed dose to the blood is a better predictor of ablation success than the administered ¹³¹I activity in thyroid cancer patients

Authors: Frederik A. Verburg, Michael Lassmann, Uwe Mäder, Markus Luster, Christoph Reiners, Heribert Hänscheid

Published in: European Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging | Issue 4/2011

Abstract

Purpose

The residence time of ¹³¹I in the blood is likely to be a measure of the amount of ¹³¹I that is available for uptake by thyroid remnant tissue and thus the radiation absorbed dose to the target tissue in ¹³¹I ablation of patients with differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC). This hypothesis was tested in an investigation on the dependence of the success rate of radioiodine remnant ablation on the radiation absorbed dose to the blood (BD) as a surrogate for the amount of ¹³¹I available for iodine-avid tissue uptake.

Methods

This retrospective study included 449 DTC patients who received post-operative ¹³¹I ablation in our centre in the period from 1993 to 2007 and who returned to us for diagnostic whole-body scintigraphy. The BD was calculated based on external dose rate measurements using gamma probes positioned in the ceiling. Success of ablation was defined as a negative diagnostic ¹³¹I whole-body scan and undetectable thyroglobulin levels at 6 months follow-up.

Results

Ablation was successful in 56.6% of the patients. The rate of successful ablation correlated significantly with BD but not with the administered activity. Patients with blood doses exceeding 350 mGy (n = 144) had a significantly higher probability for successful ablation (63.9%) than the others (n = 305, ablation rate 53.1%, p = 0.03). In contrast, no significant dependence of the ablation rate on the administered activity was observed.

Conclusion

The BD is a more powerful predictor of ablation success than the administered activity.

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Title: The absorbed dose to the blood is a better predictor of ablation success than the administered 131I activity in thyroid cancer patients
Authors: Frederik A. Verburg
Michael Lassmann
Uwe Mäder
Markus Luster
Christoph Reiners
Heribert Hänscheid
Publication date: 01-04-2011
Publisher: Springer-Verlag
Published in: European Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging / Issue 4/2011
Print ISSN: 1619-7070
Electronic ISSN: 1619-7089
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00259-010-1689-5

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

The absorbed dose to the blood is a better predictor of ablation success than the administered ¹³¹I activity in thyroid cancer patients

Abstract

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusion

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusion

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