[The basis for radioiodine therapy in differentiated thyroid cancer]

Radioiodine therapy of differentiated thyroid cancer is based on the ability of these tumors to accumulate iodine, making them accessible to a metabolic treatment with I-131, a beta-emitting radioisotope leading to in intensive, highly selective and tumoricidal irradiation of such cells. Radioiodine ablation of thyroid remnants is performed few weeks after radical thyroid surgery and significantly decreases the risk of recurrence of thyroid cancer and the risk of death due to thyroid cancer. Even in recurrent or metastatic thyroid cancer, radioiodine treatment will often be curative or at least result in long term improvement, making differentiated thyroid cancers among the most curable cancers at present. In Switzerland, radioiodine treatment of thyroid cancer must be done in specialized nuclear medicine wards. Secondary effects are mild and mostly related to the symptoms of hypothyroidism. Recurrent or metastatic thyroid cancer often necessitates an interdisciplinary approach, including surgery, radioiodine therapy and sometimes external radiation therapy. Follow-up should be done in specialized centers in collaboration with the patient's family doctor.