Radioactive iodine administration is not associated with improved disease-specific survival in classic papillary thyroid carcinoma greater than 4 cm confined to the thyroid

Abstract

Background: We aimed to evaluate the impact of radioactive iodine on disease-specific survival in intrathyroidal (N0M0) papillary thyroid carcinoma >4 cm, given conflicting data in the American Thyroid Association guidelines regarding their management.

Methods: The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database was queried for N0M0 classic papillary thyroid carcinoma >4 cm. Kaplan-Meier estimates were performed to compare disease-specific survival between radioactive iodine-treated and untreated groups. A multivariable Cox regression was performed to identify predictors of disease-specific survival.

Results: There were more patients aged ≥55 (41.7% vs 32.3%, P = .001) and fewer multifocal tumors (25.3% vs 30.6%, P = .006) in the no radioactive iodine group. Ten-year disease-specific survival was similar between the radioactive iodine treated and untreated groups (97.2% vs 95.6%, P = .34). Radioactive iodine was not associated with a significant disease-specific survival benefit (adjusted hazard ratio = 0.78, confidence interval [0.39-1.58], P = .49). Age ≥55 (adjusted hazard ratio = 3.50, confidence interval [1.69-7.26], P = .001) and larger tumor size (adjusted hazard ratio = 1.04, confidence interval [1.02-1.06], P < .001) were associated with an increased risk of disease-specific death. Subgroup analyses did not demonstrate improved disease-specific survival with radioactive iodine in patients ≥55 and in tumors >5 cm.

Conclusion: Adjuvant radioactive iodine administration in classic papillary thyroid carcinoma >4 cm confined to the thyroid did not significantly impact disease-specific survival. Thus, these patients may not require routine treatment with adjuvant radioactive iodine.