Randomized trials on radioactive iodine ablation of thyroid remnants for thyroid carcinoma - A critique

Purpose: The dose of radioactive iodine (I-131) required to ablate thyroid remnants following surgery for differentiated thyroid carcinoma is controve rsial. Typical administered activities range from less than 30 mCi up to 10 0 mCi, reflecting local practice and regulations governing allowable outpat ient doses. This review examines the available randomized trials designed t o assess the optimal ablative dose in this setting. Methods and Materials: The authors identified three such trials published i n 1987, 1991, and 1996, and critically reviewed them from a scientific and statistical point of view. Results: Two of these studies were small and lacked adequate statistical po wer to answer the question, and the third was very poorly conducted. Conclusion: In our opinion, the appropriate dose of I-131 for ablation of t hyroid remnants remains undetermined, (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Inc.