Is there a role for radiation therapy in the management of Hürthle cell carcinoma?

To determine the role that radiation therapy may have in the management of resected, unresectable, and metastatic Hürthle cell carcinoma.

Retrospective review of 18 patients receiving radiation therapy for Hürthle cell carcinoma of the thyroid gland. The diagnosis was established in 10 men and 8 women between November 1943 and January 1995. Median age was 57.9 years. Initially, 5 patients received adjuvant radiation therapy, 7 received salvage radiation therapy for unresectable recurrent disease, and 6 received palliative radiation therapy for distant metastases. Median follow-up was 107.1 months (range 15.7-351 months). The Kaplan-Meier method was used to calculate and estimate overall survival, cause-specific survival, and locoregional tumor control rate.

The 5-year overall and cause-specific survival rates were 66.7% (SE 11.1%) and 71.8% (SE 10.7%), respectively. Adjuvant radiation therapy was successful in preventing recurrence in 4 of 5 patients. Salvage radiation therapy was successful in 3 of 5 patients treated with external beam radiation therapy. Palliative radiation therapy provided sustained symptomatic relief at 67% of irradiated sites.

Hürthle cell carcinoma of the thyroid gland is a radiosensitive tumor. Radiation therapy may provide palliative relief from symptomatic metastases, control recurrent tumors, and prevent recurrence of advanced resected tumors.