Papillary and follicular thyroid carcinoma

Papillary and follicular thyroid carcinomas are among the most curable of a ll cancers. However, some patients are at high risk of recurrence or even d eath from their cancer. Most of these patients can be identified at the tim e of diagnosis using well-established prognostic indicators. The extent of initial treatment and follow-up should therefore be individualized. The ear ly discovery of persistent and recurrent disease is based on the combined u se of serum thyroglobulin determination and of total body scanning with I-1 31. The recent availability of recombinant human thyroid stimulating hormon e has greatly improved the quality of the patient's life during follow-up. Treatment of recurrences is based mainly on surgery and I-131 treatment.