Abstract
Although the causal relation between radioactive iodine therapy (RIT) for Graves' disease and the subsequent occurence of thyroid carcinoma is not definite, surgeons may be faced with the treatment of such patients. We studied the clinicopathologic features of patients with thyroid carcinoma following RIT for Graves' disease. From January 1983 to December 1991, 11 patients with thyroid carcinoma occurring 1 year or more after RIT for Graves' disease underwent surgery at Ito Hospital. These 11 patients accounted for 0.51% of 2146 surgical cases of thyroid carcinoma and 0.17% of 6419 RIT cases of Graves' disease during the period. They were all women, and their mean ages at RIT and surgery were 44.3 and 51.4 years, respectívely. The administered dose of RI was 222.1 MBq and the absorbed dose 45.3 Gy on average. Total thyroidectomy was performed in two patients, subtotal thyroidectomy in three, and lobectomy in six. Bilateral modified neck dissection (MND) was added in two patients, and ipsilateral MND in seven. Histology revealed 10 papillary and 1 follicular carcinoma. The mean diameter of the tumor was 18.5 mm. Intraglandular dissemination of the tumor was noted in only one case and solid growth patern in two. Nodal metastasis was disclosed in six cases, but in five of them only one node was involved. The present study indicated that thyroid carcinoma occurring after RIT for Graves' disease is not an aggressive variety, and thyroid lobectomy with ípsilateral MND would be sufficient as surgical treatment for such patients.
Résumé
Bien que le rapport entre la radioiodothérapie (RIT) pour maladie de Basedow et la survenue de cancer ne soit pas clair, n'importe quel chirurgien peut un jour être confronté à ce problème. Nous avons étudié les caractéristiques clinicopathologiques de 11 patients ayant un cancer de la thyroïde un an ou plus après une RIT pour maladie de Basedow observés entre 1983 et Décembre 1991 et opérés à l'Hôpital Ito. Ces 11 patients représentaient 0.51% des 2146 cas de cancer de la thyroïde et 0.17% des 6419 cas de maladie de Basedow traités pendant cette même période. Il s'agissait dans tous les cas de femmes, d'âge moyen au moment de la RIT et de la chirurgie respectivement de 44.3 et 51.4 ans. La dose moyenne de RIT était de 222.1 MBq et la dose absorbée, de 45.3 Gy. La thyroïdectomie totale a été réalisée chez deux patients, la thyroïdectomie subtotale chez 3 et al lobectomie chez 6 autres. Le curage cervical était bilatéral dans deux cas, et homolatéral dans 7. L'histologie a mis en évidence 10 cancers papillaires et un cancer folliculaire. Le diamètre moyen de la tumeur était de 18.5 mm. La dissémination intraglandulaire de la glande a été notée dans un cas et une tumeur pleine dans deux. Des métastases lymphatiques ont été notées dans 6 cas, mais dans 5 des 6 cas, un ganglion seulement a été envahi. Cette étude indique que le cancer de la thyroïde aprés RIT pour malade de Basedow n'est pas un cancer agressif; la lobectomie associée à un curage homolatéral devrait suffire pour traiter ces patients.
Resumen
Aunque no se ha definido la relación causal entre la terapia con yodo radioactivo (TRA) para enfermedad de Graves y el desarrollo ulterior de cáncer tiroideo, el cirujano, en su práctica profesional, puede verse enfrentado a tal problema. Hemos analizado las características clinicopatológicas de pacientes con carcinoma tiroideo aparecido luego de TRA para enfermedad de Graves. Entre enero de 1983 y diciembre de 1991, 11 pacientes con carcinoma tiroideo diagnosticado un año o más luego de TRA, fueron sometidos a cirugía en el Hospital Ito.
Estos 11 pacientes representaron el 0.51% de 2.146 casos quirúrgicos de carcinoma tíroideo y el 0.17% de 6.419 casos de TRA por enfermedad de Graves regístrados durante tal período. Todos los pacientes fueron del sexo femenino y sus edades en el momento del TRA y de la cirugía fueron 44.3 y 51.4 años, respectivamente.
La dosis administrada de yodo radioactivo fue 222.1 MBq y la dosis absorbida fue 45.3 Gy, en promedio. Se practicó tiroidectomía total en 2 pacientes, tiroidectomía subtotal en 3 y lobectomía en 6. Se añadió disección cervical bilateral modificada en 2 casos, e ipsilateral en 7.
La histología reveló 10 carcinomas papilares y 1 folicular. El diámetro promedio del tumor fue 18.5 mm. En un caso se observó diseminación intraglandular del tumor y en dos casos un patrón de crecimiento sólido. Metástasis ganglionares fueron observadas en 6, pero en 5 de estos pacientes sólo había un ganglio afectado.
El presente estudio señala que el carcinoma tiroideo que se desarrolla luego de TRA por enfermedad de Graves no es una variedad agresiva y que una lobectomía con disección cervical modificada unilateral puede ser suficiente tratamiento quirúrgico en los pacientes que lo albergan.
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Ozaki, O., Ito, K., Mimura, T. et al. Thyroid carcinoma after radioactive iodine therapy for Graves' disease. World J. Surg. 18, 518–521 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00353753
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00353753