Evaluation of response to radioiodine therapy in thyroid oncocytic carcinoma patients: A single center experience from Iran

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Nuclear Medicine Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

2 Research Center for Nuclear Medicine, Shariati Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

3 Oncosurgery Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

Abstract

Introduction: Thyroid oncocytic carcinoma, also known as Hürthle cell carcinoma (HCC), is a rare subtype of thyroid cancer with unique characteristics. Radioiodine therapy, while less effective for HCC due to poor radioiodine accumulation in tumor, has shown improved survival rates for tumors larger than 2 cm. Adjuvant radioiodine therapy is recommended in certain cases, particularly for older patients with a worse prognosis.
Methods: This study reviewed data from 18 HCC cases compared to the overall patient population (OPP) at our center between 2019 and 2022.
Results: The mean age at diagnosis was higher for HCC patients compared to OPP, with varying responses to therapy observed. Assessment of response to therapy after one year revealed 26.7%, 20%, 20%, and 33.3% of HCC patients with excellent, indeterminate, biochemical incomplete, and structural incomplete responses, which were 41.5%, 24.7%, 13%, and 20.7% in OPP, respectively. The Kaplan curve of patient survival showed an average of 100±13.5 months.
Conclusion: Approximately 44% of HCC patients showed excellent survival outcomes after radioiodine therapy, highlighting its importance as a treatment option for HCC. Further research is needed to optimize treatment choices and improve patient outcomes in this less common subtype of thyroid cancer.

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

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