title: The role of radioactive iodine in the treatment of well-differentiated thyroid cancer.
abstract: The prognosis in differentiated thyroid cancer is excellent. The completeness of thyroidectomy and removal of involved regional metastases are the most important elements of management. Iodine 131 has a role in ablating residual thyroid and treating regional and distant metastases. The effectiveness of the treatment is confirmed by negative follow-up scans and low or undetectable Tg. This therapy is relatively specific, but other tissues can receive meaningful doses of radiation and acute and long-term complications can occur. Therefore, whether the patient will have a better prognosis after treatment with 131I and whether the benefits of treatment are greater than the side effects must be determined for every patient.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Iowa, Carver College of Medicine, 200 Hawkins Drive, Room 1516 JCP, Iowa City, IA 52242-1086, USA. ronald-weigel@uiowa.edu
authors.forename: Ronald J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Weigel
authors.forename: I Ross
authors.initials: IR
authors.lastname: McDougall
mesh_terms: D002454:Cell Differentiation; D006801:Humans; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011379:Prognosis; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D013954:Thyroglobulin / Q000378:metabolism; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000528:radiation effects; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes; D013954:Thyroglobulin