2022 ETA Consensus Statement: What are the indications for post-surgical radioiodine therapy in differentiated thyroid cancer?

Modern use of post-operative radioactive iodine (RAI) treatment for differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) should be implemented in line with patients' risk stratification. Although beneficial effects of radioiodine are undisputed in high-risk patients, controversy remains in intermediate-risk and some low-risk patients. Since the last consensus on post-surgical use of RAI in DTC patients, new retrospective data and results of prospective randomized trials have been published, which have allowed the development of a new European Thyroid Association (ETA) statement for the indications of post-surgical RAI therapy in DTC. Questions about which patients are candidates for RAI therapy, which activities of RAI can be used, and which modalities of pre-treatment patient preparation should be used are addressed in the present guidelines.

Automated summary

The use of post-operative RAI treatment for DTC should be based on patient's risk stratification. While the benefits of radioiodine are clear for high-risk patients, its use in intermediate-risk and some low-risk patients remains controversial. New guidelines have been developed, taking into consideration retrospective data and the results of prospective randomized trials, to address questions regarding patient selection, RAI activity, and pre-treatment patient preparation.