Thyroid Carcinoma: Is Postoperative External Irradiation Indicated?

Abstract

A review of 76 patients with thyroid carcinoma, in which residual disease was left behind, has been presented. Of the 76 patients, 29 received postoperative irradiation, and 47 received no postoperative irradiation. The median survival for the group receiving postoperative irradiation was 16 years. In the 47 patients with thyroid carcinoma who received no postoperative irradiation, the median survival was 9 years. The treatment of thyroid carcinoma is basically surgical in nature. Patientswith evidence of infiltrative residual disease following surgery may benefit from postoperative irradiation.