• Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging
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• 제43권4호
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• pp.259-279
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• 2009

Radioiodine ablation therapy has been considered to be a standard treatment for patient with differentiated thyroid cancer after total thyroidectomy. Patients may need to be hospitalized to reduce radiation exposure of other people and relatives from radioactive patients receiving radioiodine therapy. Medical staffs, nursing staffs and technologists sometimes hesitate to contact patients in radioiodine therapy ward. The purpose of this paper is to introduce radiation dosimetry, estimate radiation dose from patients and emphasize the safety of radiation exposure from patients treated with high dose radioiodine in therapy ward. The major component of radiation dose from patient is external exposure. However external radiation dose from these patients treated with typical therapeutic dose of 4 to 8 GBq have a very low risk of cancer induction compared with other various risks occurring in daily life. The typical annual radiation dose without shielding received by patient is estimated to be 5 to 10 mSv, which is comparable with 100 to 200 times effective dose received by chest PA examination. Therefore, when we should keep in mind the general principle of radiation protection, the risks of radiation exposure from patients are low and the medical personnel are considered to be safe from radiation exposure.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제15권15호
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• pp.6443-6447
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• 2014

Background: To determine the predictive value of the baseline stimulated thyroglobulin (STg) level for ablation outcome in patients undergoing adjuvant remnant radioiodine ablation (RRA) for differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC). Materials and Methods: This retrospective study accrued 64 patients (23 male and 41 female; mean age of $40{\pm}14$ years) who had total thyroidectomy followed by RRA for DTC from January 2012 till April 2014. Patients with positive anti-Tg antibodies and distant metastasis on post-ablative whole body iodine scans (TWBIS) were excluded. Baseline STg was used to predict successful ablation (follow-up STg <2 ng/ml, negative diagnostic WBIS and negative ultrasound neck) at 7-12 months follow-up. Results: Overall, successful ablation was noted in 37 (58%) patients while ablation failed in 27 (42%). Using the ROC curve, a cut-off level of baseline STg level of ${\leq}14.5ng/ml$ was found to be most sensitive and specific for predicting successful ablation. Successful ablation was thus noted in 25/28 (89%) of patients with baseline STg ${\leq}14.5ng/ml$ and 12/36 (33%) patients with baseline STg >14.5 ng/ml ((p value <0.05). Age >40 years, female gender, PTS >2 cm, papillary histopathology, positive cervical nodes and positive TWBIS were significant predictors of ablation failure. Conclusions: We conclude that in patients with total thyroidectomy followed by I-131 ablation for DTC, the baseline STg level is a good predictor of successful ablation based on a stringent triple negative criteria (i.e. follow-up STg < 2 ng/ml, a negative DWBIS and a negative US neck).

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제15권6호
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• pp.2523-2527
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• 2014

Background: Serum thyroglobulin detection plays an essential role during the follow-up of thyroid cancer patients treated with total/near total thyroidectomy and radioiodine ablation. The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the relationship between stimulated serum thyroglobulin (Tg) level at the time of high dose $^{131}I$ ablation and risk of recurrence, using a three-level classification in patients with differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) according to the ATA guidelines. Also we investigated the relationship between postoperative stimulated Tg at the time of ablation and DxWBS results at 8-10 months thereafter. Materials and Methods: Patients with radioiodine accumulation were regarded as scan positive (scan+). If there was no relevant pathological radioiodine accumulation or minimal local accumulation in the thyroid bed region, this were regarded as scan negative (scan-) at the time of DxWBS. We classified patients in 3 groups as low, intermediate and high risk group for assessment of risk of recurrence according to the revised ATA guidelines. Also, we divided patients into 3 groups based on the stimulated serum Tg levels at the time of $^{131}I$ ablation therapy. Groups 1-3 consisted of patients who had Tg levels of ${\leq}2ng/ml$, 2-10 ng/ml, and ${\geq}10ng/ml$, respectively. Results: A total of 221 consecutive patients were included. In the high risk group according to the ATA guideline, while 45.5% of demonstrated Scan(+) Tg(+), 27.3% of patients demonstrated Scan(-) Tg(-); in the intermediate group, the figures were 2.3% and 90.0% while in the low risk group, they were 0.6% and 96.4%. In 9 of 11 patients with metastases (81.8%), stimulated serum Tg level at the time of radioiodine ablation therapy was over 10, however in 1 patient (9.1%) it was <2ng/mL and in one patient it was 2-10ng/mL (p=0.005). Aggressive subtypes of DTC were found in 8 of 221 patients and serum Tg levels were ${\leq}2ng/ml$ in 4 of these 8. Conclusions: We conclude that TSH-stimulated serum thyroglobulin level at the time of ablation may not determine risk of recurrence. Therefore, DxWBS should be performed at 8-12 months after ablation therapy.

• Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging
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• 제40권2호
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• pp.132-140
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• 2006

Well-differentiated thyroid cancer is the most common endocrine malignancy with an increasing incidence. Most patients with well-differentiated thyroid caner have a favorable prognosis with high survival rate. While surgery and radioiodine therapy is sufficient treatment for the majority of patients with differentiated thyroid cancer, a minority of these patients experiences progressive, life-threatening growth and metastatic spread of the disease. Because there is no prospective controlled study to evaluate the differences of management of thyroid cancer, it is hard to choose the best treatment option. And there are still lots of controversies about the management of this disease, such as surgical extent, proper use of radioiodine for remnant ablation and therapy, use of rhTSH instead of withdrawal of thyroid hormone, long-term follow-up strategy, thyroglobulin as a tumor marker, etc. In this review, recent data related to these conflicting issues and recent advances in diagnosis, radioiodine therapy and long-term monitoring of well-differentiated thyroid cancer are summarized.

• 대한핵의학회지
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• 제36권1호
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• pp.87-89
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• 2002

A 30 year-old female patient with papillary thyroid carcinoma received her fifth radioiodine ablation therapy after the subtotal thyroidectomy. The scan, which was peformed one week after the last therapy, revealed residual uptake in the thyroid bed and uptake in the anterior mediastinum suggesting metastasis. However, further evaluation of the thorax with chest CT and camera-based FDG PET confirmed normal thymus without metastatic focus. Occasionally thymus remains intact in adult and has avidity for I-131 and FDG. Therefore, normal thymus (instead of metastasis) should be considered in patients with well differentiated thyroid carcinoma and anterior mediastinal radioiodine uptake.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제17권3호
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• pp.1115-1118
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• 2016

Background: There is controversy about ablation efficacy of low or high doses of radioiodine-131 (RAI) in patients with differentiated thyroid cancers (DTC). The purpose of this prospective study was to determine efficacy of 30 mCi and 100 mCi of RAI to achieve successful ablation in patients with low to intermediate risk DTC. Materials and Methods: This prospective cross sectional study was conducted from April 2013 to November 2015. Inclusion criteria were patients of either gender, 18 years or older, having low to intermediate risk papillary and follicular thyroid cancers with T1-3, N0/N1/Nx but no evidence of distant metastasis. Thirty-nine patients were administered 30 mCi of RAI while 61 patients were given 100 mCi. Informed consent was acquired from all patients and counseling was done by nuclear physicians regarding benefits and possible side effects of RAI. After an average of 6 months (range 6-16 months; 2-3 weeks after thyroxin withdrawal), these patients were followed up for stimulated TSH, thyroglobulin (sTg) and thyroglobulin antibodies, ultrasound neck (U/S) and a diagnostic whole body iodine scan (WBIS) for ablation outcome. Successful ablation was concluded with stimulated Tg< 2ng/ml with negative antibodies, negative U/S and a negative diagnostic WBIS (triple negative criteria). ROC curve analysis was used to find diagnostic strength of baseline sTg to predict successful ablation. Results: Successful ablation based upon triple negative criteria was 56% in the low dose and 57% in the high dose group (non-significant difference). Based on a single criterion (follow-up sTg<2 ng/ml), values were 82% and 77% (again non-significant). The ROC curve revealed that a baseline sTg level ${\leq}7.4ng/ml$ had the highest diagnostic strength to predict successful ablation in all patients. Conclusions: We conclude that 30 mCi of RAI has similar ablation success to 100 mCi dose in patients with low to intermediate risk DTC. A baseline $sTg{\leq}7.4ng/ml$ is a strong predictor of successful ablation in all patients. Low dose RAI is safer, more cost effective and more convenient for patients and healthcare providers.

• 대한핵의학회지
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• 제34권1호
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• pp.22-29
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• 2000

목적: 방사성옥소 치료를 받은 갑상선암 환자의 수술 후 첫 진단 스캔과 치료 후 스캔을 비교하고 치료 후 스캔에서 더 많은 병소를 보이는 경우(불일치군)와 같은 경우(일치군) 사이에 임상경과에 차이가 있는 지를 알아보았다. 대상 및 방법: 방사성옥소 치료를 받은 분화된 갑상선암 환자 143명의 수술 후 첫 진단 스캔과 치료 후 스캔을 비교하였다. 진단 스캔은 방사성옥소 185 MBq를, 치료후 스캔은 $3.7{\sim}9.3$ GBq를 투여한 후 얻었다. 추적 진단 스캔에서 비정상 섭취가 없으며 혈청 갑상선글로불린치가 정상이면 잔여 갑상선조직이 제거된 것으로 판정하였다. 결과: 두 스캔사이에 차이를 보인 경우는 143명 중 25명(17.5%)으로, 진단 스캔보다 치료 후 스캔에서 더 많은 병소를 보인 경우가 22명(15.4%), 기절효과를 보인 경우가 3명(2.1%)이었다. 원격전이가 확인된 환자 14명 중 9명(64.3%)은 치료 후 스캔에서만 병소를 확인할 수 있었다. 기절 효과를 보인 3명 중 1명은 아치사손상에 의한 것으로 생각되나, 나머지 2명에서는 다음 진단 스캔에서도 보이지 않아 진단 스캔 용량에 의한 제거의 가능성을 보였다. 관해는 75명(58.1%)의 환자에서 이루어졌다. 잔여 갑상선의 제거율, 평균 방사성옥소 축적 용량은 불일치군과 일치군 사이에서 유의한 차이가 없었다. 결론: 185 MBq의 단일 용량의 방사성옥소를 이용하여 진단 스캔을 얻었을 때, 진단 스캔과 치료 후 스캔이 다른 경우는 17.5%에서 관찰되었으며, 특히 원격전이가 확인된 환자의 64.3%는 치료 후 스캔에서만 병소가 확인되었다. 진단 스캔과 치료 후 스캔 사이에 차이를 보인 환자군과 일치한 환자군에서 잔여 갑상선 제거율 및 방사성옥소 평균 축적용량은 유의한 차이가 없었다. 기절효과를 보인 병소는 추적검사에서 모두 제거되어 방사성옥소를 섭취할 능력의 일시적 장해뿐 아니라 진단용량에 의한 치료효과도 있었던 것으로 생각된다.

• 대한핵의학회지
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• 제34권4호
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• pp.265-275
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• 2000

The thyroid gland is an interesting endocrine organ where a spectrum of tumors with different behavior arise. At one end of spectrum there is differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC) with excellent prognosis, whereas at the other end of the spectrum is anaplastic thyroid cancer which has universally poor outcome. Radioiodine (I-131) therapy has been in use for the treatment of thyroid diseases since 1946. It was introduced by Seidlin et al. 1) Although the use of I-131 has been vouge for a long time, its use in therapy for well differentiated thyroid cancer is still controversial 2). This is because, thyroid cancers (TC) are generally slow growing tumors, with low mortality and normal spans of survival. To record recurrence and mortality, long term follow up studies over a period of two to three decades are needed to establish definite conclusions on the acceptable mode of treatment The incidence of the disease being very low a large number of cases needed to establish a meaningful statistical data is lacking as most published reports feat with small series. Here again in the problem encountered are the differing protocols for treatment with I-131, the indications for treatment which may include or exclude ablation of residual thyroid tissue, cervical nodal and distal metastases. The dosage of I-131 used for ablation of residual thyroid tissue and metastatic disease also vary. The most reliable conclusion regarding I-131 treatment are obtained from studies reported on a large series of patients followed over a period of 2 decades or more from a single institute with a more or less unchanged protocol of management.

• Journal of Medicine and Life Science
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• 제19권3호
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• pp.95-102
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• 2022

This retrospective study aimed to investigate whether there was a difference in the success rate of removal of residual thyroid tissue in patients with the same cutoff serum thyroglobulin (Tg) value-measured 2 weeks after thyroid hormone withdrawal (THW)-for different radioactive iodine (RAI) activities. We identified 132 patients with papillary thyroid cancer who were treated with total thyroidectomy and RAI therapy to evaluate the efficacy of three radioactivities of I-131: 1,110, 3,700, and 5,550 MBq. Serum Tg testing was performed 1 week before RAI treatment and 2 weeks after THW (pre-Tg); the cutoff pre-Tg level was below 10 ng/mL. Stimulated Tg levels were measured on the day of I-131 administration (off-Tg). After 6 months of treatment, we compared the groups for complete ablation, defined as no uptake on a diagnostic I-131 scan, stimulated Tg level of <1.0 ng/mL, and Tg antibody level of <100 ng/mL. Ninety-five patients (72.0%) achieved complete ablation, with 57.1% (8/14), 78.2% (68/87), and 61.3% (19/31) in the 1,110 MBq, 3,700 MBq, and 5,550 MBq groups, respectively. There was no significant difference in the complete ablation rates between the three groups. In the multivariate analysis, the off-Tg level was a significant predictor of complete ablation. RAI therapy with low radioactivity (1,110 MBq) seemed sufficient for ablation in patients with papillary thyroid cancer with a pre-Tg level below 10 ng/mL. The off-Tg level is a promising and useful predictor of complete ablation after initial RAI therapy.

• Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging
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• 제40권6호
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• pp.322-326
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• 2006

목적: 갑상선암 방사성요오드 치료를 위한 전처치로 1주${\sim}$2주간 저요오드식이를 시행하는 것이 국제 권고안에서 권고되고 있으나 각 병원마다 저요오드식이를 자체적인 교육방법에 따라 시행하고 있으며 저요오드식이를 통해 체내 요오드량을 효과적으로 낮추었는지에 대한 측정도 대부분의 병원에서 시행되지 않고 있어, 연구자들의 병원에 의뢰된 환자들의 소변 내 I/Cr비를 측정하여 고전적인 엄격한 저요오드식 이를 1주일간 시 행하는 방법과 덜 엄격한 저요오드식이를 2주일간 시행하는 방법을 비교하여 그 적절성을 평가하고자 하였다. 대상 및 방법: 2006년 4월 10일부터 6월 19일까지 본원에 의뢰된 27명의 환자를 대상으로 제한 및 허용식품 목록, 영양사 교육 유무, 예시 식단 유무, 저요오드식이 기간을 비교하여 가장 빈도가 높은 2가지 방법, 즉 관용적인 기준을 채택하는 군과 엄격한 제한식품을 설명한 군으로 나누어 두 군의 아침 소변을 채집, iodide selective electrode method를 사용하여 소변 내 요오드량을 측정하고 이를 소변 내 크레아티닌으로 나누어 I/Cr비를 구하였다. 두 군의 결과는 t-test를 이용하여 검정하였다. 결과: 두 군간의 특성에는 유의한 차이가 없었으며 각 군에서의 소변 내 I/Cr 비는 2주간 덜 엄격한 저요오드식이 군에서 $289.75{\pm}188.24{\mu}g/g$, 1주간 엄격한 저요오드식이를 시행한 군에서는 $127.87{\pm}78.52{\mu}g/g$으로 측정되었으며 1주간 엄격하게 시행한 군에서 유의하게 낮았다 (p=0.008). 2주간 덜 엄격한 저요오드식이를 시행한 군에서는 14명중 3명(21.42%), 1주간 엄격한 저요오드식이를 시행한 군에서는 13명중 6명(46.15%)이 방사성요오드치료를 위한 적정한 수준으로 제시된 소변 내 요오드배설량 $100{\mu}g/g$이하를 만족했다. 결론: 2주간 덜 엄격한 저요오드식이를 시행한 군에서 1주간 엄격한 교육을 시행한 군보다 높은 소변 내 I/Cr비가 나온 것을 볼 때 교육 방법을 엄격하게 시행하지 않고 간단하게 변형된 방법을 사용할 경우 기간을 길게 하더라도 치료에 필요한 적정 수준의 체내 요오드량 감소를 달성하기 어려울 것으로 판단된다. 그러나 1주간 엄격한 저요오드식이를 시행한 군에서도 체내 요오드량의 감소가 충분히 감소하는 비율이 여전히 낮기 때문에 엄격한 저요오드식이 방법을 2주간 시행하는 것이 더바람직하리라 기대된다.