Radioiodine as an adjunct to the surgical treatment of medullary thyroid carcinoma.
After total thyroidectomy for medullary thyroid carcinoma, a 50-yr-old male was found to have decreased but still abnormally elevated plasma calcitonin levels. A thyroid scan with 131I revealed remaining thyroid tissue primarily in the form of a thyroglossal duct remnant. Two courses of 131I treatment of 30 and 150 mCi, respectively, produced a gradual decrease in plasma calcitonin. This study demonstrates that carefully selected patients may benefit from the use of 131I treatment as an adjunct to surgery in medullary thyroid carcinoma.
D002116:Calcitonin / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010418:Pentagastrin; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000628:therapy*; D013965:Thyroidectomy
D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes; D002116:Calcitonin; D010418:Pentagastrin