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Variations in radioiodine ablation: decision-making after total thyroidectomy

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European Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Background

The role of radioiodine treatment following total thyroidectomy for differentiated thyroid cancer is changing. The last major revision of the American Thyroid Association (ATA) Management Guidelines for Patients with Thyroid Nodules and Differentiated Thyroid Cancer in 2015 changed treatment recommendations dramatically in comparison with the European Association of Nuclear Medicine (EANM) 2008 guidelines. We hypothesised that there is marked variability between the different treatment regimens used today.

Methods

We analysed decision-making in all Swiss hospitals offering radioiodine treatment to map current practice within the community and identify consensus and discrepancies.

Results and Conclusion

We demonstrated that for low-risk DTC patients after thyroidectomy, some institutions offered only follow-up, while RIT with significant activities is recommended in others. For intermediate- and high-risk patients, radioiodine treatment is generally recommended. Dosing and treatment preparation (recombinant human thyroid stimulation hormone (rhTSH) vs. thyroid hormone withdrawal (THW)) vary significantly among centres.

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Funding

The project was funded by a non-profit grant by Krebsliga Beider Basel as mentioned in the submission portal.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Kantonsspital St. Gallen, Rorschacherstrasse 95, 9007, St. Gallen, Switzerland

    O. Maas, F. Forrer & M. Maas

  2. Department of Radiation Oncology, Kantonsspital St. Gallen, Rorschacherstrasse 95, 9007, St. Gallen, Switzerland

    C. M. Panje & P. M. Putora

  3. Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Hislanden Klinik St. Anna, St. Anna-Strasse 32, 6006, Luzern, Switzerland

    J. Blautzik

  4. Nuclear Medicine and PET-Centre, Kantonsspital Aarau, Tellstrasse 25, 5001, Aarau, Switzerland

    M. Brühlmeier

  5. Department of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital Zurich, Rämistrasse 100, 8091, Zurich, Switzerland

    I. Engel-Bicik

  6. Department of Nuclear Medicine and PET-Centre, Regional Hospital Lugano and Bellinzona, Via Officina 3, 6500, Bellinzona, Switzerland

    L. Giovanella

  7. Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Stadtspital Triemli, Birmensdorferstrasse 497, 8063, Zurich, Switzerland

    A. Haldemann

  8. Department of Nuclear Medicine, Hôpital du Valais, Av. Grand-Champsec 80, 1951, Sion, Switzerland

    M. E. Kamel

  9. Department of Nuclear Medicine, Cantonal Hospital Graubünden Chur, Loëstrasse 170, 7000, Chur, Switzerland

    S. Kneifel

  10. Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital Basel, Petersgraben 4, 4031, Basel, Switzerland

    C. Rottenburger

  11. Department of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital Lausanne, Rue de Bugnon 46, 1011, Lausanne, Switzerland

    N. Schaefer

  12. Department of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital Geneva, Rue Gabrielle-Perret-Gentil 4, 1205, Geneva, Switzerland

    M. A. Walter

  13. Department of Nuclear Medicine, Inselspital Bern, Freiburgstrasse 18, 3010, Bern, Switzerland

    S. Weidner

  14. Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland

    P. M. Putora

Authors
  1. O. Maas
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  2. F. Forrer
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  3. M. Maas
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  4. C. M. Panje
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  5. J. Blautzik
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  6. M. Brühlmeier
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  7. I. Engel-Bicik
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  8. L. Giovanella
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  9. A. Haldemann
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  10. M. E. Kamel
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  11. S. Kneifel
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  12. C. Rottenburger
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  13. N. Schaefer
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  14. M. A. Walter
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  15. S. Weidner
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  16. P. M. Putora
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to O. Maas.

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Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Ethical approval

This survey analyses the participating centres for their treatment strategies. This information is derived directly from the clinical experts; individual patient data was not accessed.

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This article is part of the Topical Collection on Oncology – Head and Neck

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Maas, O., Forrer, F., Maas, M. et al. Variations in radioiodine ablation: decision-making after total thyroidectomy. Eur J Nucl Med Mol Imaging 47, 554–560 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00259-019-04557-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00259-019-04557-4

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