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European Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging
Published in: European Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging 12/2014

01-12-2014 | Original Article

The number of 131I therapy courses needed to achieve complete remission is an indicator of prognosis in patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma

Authors: Elena-Daphne Thies, Karina Tanase, Uwe Maeder, Markus Luster, Andreas K. Buck, Heribert Hänscheid, Christoph Reiners, Frederik A. Verburg

Published in: European Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging | Issue 12/2014

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Abstract

Purpose

To assess the risk of differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) recurrence, DTC-related mortality and life expectancy in relation to the number of courses of 131I therapy (RIT) and cumulative 131I activities required to achieve complete remission (CR).

Methods

The study was a database review of 1,229 patients with DTC, 333 without and 896 with CR (negative TSH-stimulated thyroglobulin and negative 131I diagnostic whole-body scintigraphy) after one or more courses of RIT.

Results

The median follow-up was 9.0 years (range 0.1 – 31.8 years) after CR. Recurrence rates at 5 years, 10 years and the end of follow-up were 1.0 ± 0.3 %, 4.0 ± 0.7 % and 6.2 ± 1.1 %, and DTC-related mortality was 0.1 ± 0.1 %, 0.5 ± 0.3 % and 3.4 ± 1.1 %, respectively. Recurrence rates also increased with an increasing number of RIT courses required (p = 0.001). DTC-related mortality increased from four RIT courses. In patients with CR after one RIT course, there were no differences in recurrence or DTC-related mortality rates between low-risk and high-risk patients. In patients requiring two RIT courses these rates remain elevated in high-risk patients. Recurrence and DTC-related mortality rates were only significantly elevated in those requiring a cumulative activity over 22.2 GBq (600 mCi) from multiple RIT courses for CR. Regardless of the number of RIT courses or activity needed, life expectancy was not significantly lowered.

Conclusion

If more than one RIT course is needed to achieve CR, higher recurrence and DTC-related mortality rates are observed, especially in high-risk patients. Patients requiring >22.2 GBq 131I for CR should be followed in the same way as patients in whom CR is never reached as long-term mortality rates are similar.
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Metadata
Title
The number of 131I therapy courses needed to achieve complete remission is an indicator of prognosis in patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma
Authors
Elena-Daphne Thies
Karina Tanase
Uwe Maeder
Markus Luster
Andreas K. Buck
Heribert Hänscheid
Christoph Reiners
Frederik A. Verburg
Publication date
01-12-2014
Publisher
Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in
European Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging / Issue 12/2014
Print ISSN: 1619-7070
Electronic ISSN: 1619-7089
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00259-014-2851-2

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