WHAT IS THE DIAGNOSTIC VALUE OF 131I-WBS IN PATIENTS WITH INTERMEDIATE-RISK DIFFERENTIATED THYROID CARCINOMA?

• Grant number: 25/04026-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: July 01, 2025
• End date: June 30, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine - Medical Radiology
• Principal Investigator: Sonia Marta Moriguchi
• Grantee: Ana Beatriz Marangão dos Santos
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina (FMB). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Botucatu. Botucatu , SP, Brazil

Abstract

While the 131I diagnostic whole-body scans (DxWBS) is recommended for patients at high risk of recurrence and contraindicated for those at low-risk, its indication remains extremely controversial for patients at intermediate-risk. This is due to the possibility of a stunning effect and its lower sensitivity compared to the post-therapy WBS (RxWBS). Despite the benefits of identifying iodine-avid tissue throughout the body and establishing proper staging and appropriate adjuvant radioiodine treatment, there is still no consensus regarding the cost-effectiveness of this exam.Objective: To assess the value of DxWBS in patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC) at intermediate risk.Specific Objectives: To identify distant metastases via DxWBS and its contribution to M staging;To compare the sensitivity in detecting iodine-avid areas between DxWBS and RxWBS;To determine the percentage of the stunning effect. Case Series and Methodology: A cross-sectional, observational study with retrospective data collection from patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma at intermediate risk. Descriptive qualitative and quantitative analyses, as well as inferential analyses (chi-squared test), were conducted, with significance set at p<0.05. (AU)