Dosimetrically determined doses of radioiodine for the treatment of metastatic thyroid carcinoma

In the absence of definitive studies relating radioiodine dose to outcomes, selection of a dose of radioiodine to treat metastatic thyroid carcinoma is problematic, and several approaches have been used. These include empiric fixed doses and doses used on dosimetric approaches specific for each patient. This paper is a review of the rationale and technique for dosimetricaliy-determined doses of radioiodine for the treatment of metastatic thyroid carcinoma. This review (1) discusses the alternatives for selection of a dose, (2) discusses the two major approaches for determining radioiodine doses dosimetrically, (3) briefly reviews several modifications of these approaches, (4) reviews the literature regarding the results, (5) discusses the side effects of these different approaches, and (6) concludes with recommendations for patient management and future research. This review does not address use of dosimetrically-determined doses of radioiodine for the initial ablation of thyroid tissue postoperatively.