Patients and methods

We included 174 patients; 87 patients in each group (ablated and nonablated). Assessment of the initial response to treatment was performed by measurement of thyroglobulin and anti-thyroglobulin antibodies and by neck ultrasonography.

Results

Baseline characteristics of both groups were compared, and no statistically significant differences were found: female sex 84% and 88,5%, respectively, (p = 0.5); mean age of 46.8 and 47.5 years, respectively (p = 0.7); papillary carcinoma classic variant 68% and 75.9%, respectively (p = 0.15). The remaining of the baseline characteristics such as tumor size, presence of bilaterality, multifocality, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis and tumor stage were not statistically significant, either. The evaluation of the response to treatment was finally performed in 64 patients from the ablated group and in 76 from the non-ablated group. An excellent response to treatment was observed in 81% of ablated patients vs. 87% of the non-ablated group, with a frequency of structural incomplete response of 1.6% and 1.4%, respectively (p = 0.9). On the other hand, 17% and 12% of patients in each group had an indeterminate response.

Conclusion

Low-risk ablated and non-ablated patients have a similar frequency of excellent initial and structural incomplete response to treatment. Long-term follow-up is needed to establish whether these initial responses are maintained over time, and thus further refine the indications of RA in this group of patients with DTC.