Background: Thyroid cancer is the most prevalent endocrine malignancy
accounting for 2% of all cancers in Egypt. Differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC)
is the most histopathological subtype. Surgery with postoperative radioactive
iodine (RAI) ablation is the standard treatment. Cervical lymph node metastasis
is most popular site of metastasis.
Objective: The study aims to assess the effect of different doses of RAI 131I on
progression free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OAS) in patients with DTC
and cervical LN metastasis.
Patients and Methods: Seventy patients with DTC with cervical lymph node
metastasis who had been seen at the Clinical Oncology Department, Mansoura
University Hospitals between 1st of 2015 to the end of 2020 were included in
this retrospective analysis.
Results: Male to female ratio was 1:1.8. The mean age was 40.98 (SD ± 14.34)
years ranging from 18-69 years. Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) represented
62 patients (88.6%). Fifty-seven (81.4 %) of patient were presented with stage I
disease. Mean OAS was 64.01 (SD ± 14.18) ranging from 15-92 months. The 2-
year PFS was 88.6% with mean PFS 46 (SD ±19.7). OAS prognostic factors
were stage, tumor size (T-stage), presence of ECE or patient performance status
(p-value = <0.001, 0.002, 0.041, and 0.024 respectively).
Conclusion: The high postoperative TG, PNI, ENE and higher number of
involved LNs have negative clinical outcome. RAI ablation is essential for the
right patient after confirming the risk category to improve the course of the
disease, increase survival rates, and stop additional recurrences.