Treatment of cancer of the thyroid postoperatively with suppressive thyroid medication, radioactive iodine, and thyroid-stimulating hormone

Abstract

a number of significant A experiments on the production of tumors of the thyroid in rats in 1947, Purves and Griesbacho suggested: "It may therefore be possible to influence the course of malignant thyroid disease in human beings by the therapeutic administration of desiccated thyroid." Previous discouraging experience with the treatment of cancer of the thyroid mediated by endogenous thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) led us, in 1953, to adopt the regimen described in this paper. We then also suggested that by suppression of endogenous TSH (using exogenous thyroxine) the growth of cancer and the occurrence of metastases may be retarded." Several valuable papers on the treatment of cancer of the thyroid have appeared recently.3.6-' . 101 Two of these31 13 specifically discussed the hormone dependency of thyroid cancer. The recognition of the element of the dependency of thyroid cancer on pituitary thyrotropic hormone and its therapeutic s u p pression may alter the natural course of this tumor and the results of isotopic therapy. Several factors would appear to be important;