Diagnostic whole body scanning is widely used to establish the indication and administration activity for radioiodine therapy in intermediate risk differentiated thyroid carcinomas. However, its predictive value is not universally accepted.

In this retrospective study, Danilovic et al. analysed pre-therapy stimulated thyroglobin levels combined with diagnostic whole body scanning and post-therapy whole body scanning findings and compared these with outcomes. Diagnostic whole body scanning identified 10.6% of patients with functioning metastases and led to modified patient management in 8.3%.

The authors ultimately concluded that a stimulated thyroglobin level <1ng/ml in combination with a negative diagnostic whole body scan is highly suggestive of the absence of remaining malignant disease, leading to a much more patient-centred approach to care.

Read the full article in Endocrine-Related Cancer 29 475–483