[Follow-up of papillary and follicular thyroid cancer--when and where?]

While papillary and follicular thyroid cancer usually has an excellent prognosis, recurrent and aggressive forms of the disease do occur. The success of surgical excision and radioiodine therapy is evaluated by ultrasonography of the neck, and TSH-stimulated serum thyreoglobulin. Based on investigational results, the patients are divided into three groups: the cancer does not exist, may exist or remains. This classification determines the thyroxine dose and follow-up arrangements. In cancer-free patients, thyroxine therapy will be implemented as in ordinary hypothyreoidism. For others a thyroxine dose will be used that lowers the serum TSH below reference values.