Outcome after high-dose radioiodine therapy for advanced differentiated thyroid carcinoma in childhood.

Objective: To evaluate the clinical outcome in childhood patients receiving postoperative high-dose radioiodine therapy for advanced differentiated thyroid carcinoma.

Method: Patients under 18 years old with neck diseases (n = 4) or distant metastases (n = 10) received postoperative radioiodine ablation and repeated treatments for a median of 2 (0.8 10) years with an averaged activity of 25.0 (7.0 72.2) GBq.

Results: Partial remission was achieved in 6, stable disease in 6 and progressive disease in 2 patients, without severe side effects except for two Grade 1 and one Grade 2 WHO haematological toxicity. The median survival time from diagnosis to the last treatment sessions was 5.3 (range, 0.7 14.5) years.

Conclusion: High-dose radioiodine treatment was well tolerated with satisfactory outcome in childhood patients with advanced differentiated thyroid carcinoma.