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The Effectiveness of Radioactive Iodine Remnant Ablation for Papillary Thyroid Microcarcinoma: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

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Abstract

Background

This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of radioactive iodine (RAI) remnant ablation for thyroid cancer-related outcomes of patients with papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC).

Methods

A systematic literature search of PubMed, EMBASE OvidSP, and EBSCO was conducted. Studies were selected that provided multivariable analysis of the effectiveness of RAI ablation or provided specific data of a 10 years history of thyroid cancer-related outcomes in patients that presented with PTMC.

Results

Nineteen studies met the inclusion criteria. A multivariable analysis of the effectiveness of RAI ablation for any recurrence or thyroid cancer-related mortality in patients with PTMC was performed in several studies, among which only one study reported a positive result. Furthermore, for PTMC patients treated by total or near-total thyroidectomy (TT/NT), with or without RAI ablative therapy, the meta-analysis suggested that RAI ablation did not decrease the 10 years history of any tumor recurrence (relative risk [RR] 0.96; 95 % confidence interval [CI] 0.63–1.48; P = 0.87), locoregional recurrence (RR 1.15; 95 % CI 0.75–1.76; P = 0.51), distant metastases (RR 0.32; 95 % CI 0.08–1.32; P = 0.11) or thyroid cancer-related mortality (RR 0.76; 95 % CI 0.22–2.63; P = 0.66).

Conclusions

With regard to multivariable analyses, there was almost no positive treatment effect of RAI ablation noted for patients with PTMC. For PTMC patients already treated by TT/NT, incremental RAI ablation may not be beneficial at decreasing the 10 years recurrence of PTMC or incidence of thyroid cancer-related mortality.

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Acknowledgments

The authors acknowledge the helpful methodological advice of Dr. Xiaochun Chou (Shanghai Jiao Tong University).

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    Authors and Affiliations

    1. Department of General Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, 180 Fenglin Road, Shanghai, 200032, China

      Guangfu Hu, Wei Zhu, Weige Yang, Hong Wang, Lei Shen & Hongwei Zhang

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    1. Guangfu Hu
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    2. Wei Zhu
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    3. Weige Yang
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    4. Hong Wang
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    Correspondence to Hongwei Zhang.

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    Guangfu Hu and Wei Zhu have contributed equally to this work and co-first authors.

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    Hu, G., Zhu, W., Yang, W. et al. The Effectiveness of Radioactive Iodine Remnant Ablation for Papillary Thyroid Microcarcinoma: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. World J Surg 40, 100–109 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00268-015-3346-4

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