Low- and high-dose radioiodine ablation for low-/intermediate-risk differentiated thyroid cancer in China: A large randomized clinical trial

Background: To determine whether 1.1 GBq radioiodine therapy is as effective as 3.7 GBq for ablation in Chinese patients with differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC). Methods: In this single-center randomized study, we compared the successful radioiodine ablation rates of 1.1 GBq and 3.7 GBq for patients with DTC. Results: At 6-8 months after radioiodine ablation, there were 95 (39%) patients in the 1.1 GBq group and 79 (32%) patients in the 3.7 GBq group with thyroid hormone withdrawal (THW), and ablation success rates were 84% versus 80%, respectively; and 149 (61%) patients in the 1.1 GBq group and 169 (68%) patients in the 3.7 GBq group without THW, and ablation success rates were 89% versus 90%, respectively. In total, the ablation was successful in 412 (87%) of the 474 patients, and it was similar between the two groups. Conclusions: Low-dose radioiodine ablation was as effective as high dose in Chinese DTC patients.