Radioiodine versus no radioiodine outcomes in low‐risk differentiated thyroid cancers: A propensity‐score matched analysis
Authors' conclusion
In low-risk DTC patients post-thyroidectomy, RAI ablation does not confer significant survival advantage over no-RAI follow-up. Further studies are required to demonstrate any long-term benefit with RAI, specifically in patients with tumour size >4 cm and elevated postoperative thyroglobulin.
Study context
- Population
- Patients with low-risk, histologically-proven differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) post-thyroidectomy, 1990–2019; median age 35 years
- Participants
- 2,074 patients776 matched pairs
- Exposure
- Radioiodine (RAI) ablation vs no-RAI follow-up
- RAIn = 1,686
- NOIn = 388reference
- Outcome
- Recurrence rate and recurrence-free survival (RFS)
- Follow-up
- Median 8 years (range: 3-29)
Methodological detailspropensity-score matched analysis
- Propensity-score matched analysis
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Recurrence rate · median follow-up 8 years
P = 0.161
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
| Outcome | RAI | NOI | P value |
|---|---|---|---|
| RFS probability · 5 and 10 years | 99.2% (5-y); 97.4% (10-y) | 98.4% (5-y); 96.2% (10-y) | P = 0.055 |
RFS by subgroup (regression)
- Better RFS with RAI vs NOI: age <55 years
- P = 0.044
- Better RFS with RAI vs NOI: male sex
- P = 0.015
- Better RFS with RAI vs NOI: papillary histology
- P = 0.043
- Better RFS with RAI vs NOI: pT3a tumours
- P = 0.049
- Better RFS with RAI vs NOI: postoperative Tg ≥5 ng/mL
- P = 0.002
Outcomes after propensity-score matching
- No significantly different outcomes between the two groups (776 matched pairs)
- Propensity-score matched
Original publication
Radioiodine versus no radioiodine outcomes in low‐risk differentiated thyroid cancers: A propensity‐score matched analysis. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf). Published 25 July 2023. doi:10.
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