Review Article

To Treat or Not to Treat: The Role of Adjuvant Radioiodine Therapy in Thyroid Cancer Patients

Table 3

Major factors impacting decision making in radioiodine remnant ablation, 2009 ATA guideline [2].

Factors DescriptionExpected Benefit
Decreased risk of deathDecreased risk of recurrenceMay facilitate initial staging and followupRAI ablation usually recommendedStrength of evidence

T1≤1 cm, intrathyroidal or microscopic multifocalNoNoYesNoE
1-2 cm, intrathyroidalNoConflicting dataYesSelective useI
T2>2–4 cm, intrathyroidalNoConflicting dataYesSelective useC
T3>4 cm,
<45 yearsNoConflicting dataYesYesB
≥45 yearsYesYesYesYesB
Any size, any age, minimal extrathyroidal extensionNoInadequate dataYesSelective useI
T4Any size with gross extrathyroidal extensionYesYesYesYesB
NX, N0No metastatic nodes documentedNoNoYesNoI
N1<45 yearsNoConflicting dataYesSelective useC
>45 yearsConflicting dataConflicting dataYesSelective useC
M1Distant metastases presentYesYesYesYesA