Journal of Endocrinology and Metabolism, ISSN 1923-2861 print, 1923-287X online, Open Access
Article copyright, the authors; Journal compilation copyright, J Endocrinol Metab and Elmer Press Inc
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Original Article

Volume 15, Number 4, October 2025, pages 137-143


Efficacy of Second Radioactive Iodine Therapy Based on Serum Thyroglobulin for Papillary Thyroid Cancer: A Retrospective Cohort Study

Figure

↓  Figure 1. Results of correlation analyses between Tg difference (%) and various clinical parameters. RAI: radioactive iodine; Tg: thyroglobulin.
Figure 1.

Tables

↓  Table 1. Differences in Key Clinical Factors Between the Response and No-Response Groups After Second RAI Therapy
 
Response (n = 11) No response (n = 7) P value
ATA: American Thyroid Association; BIR: biochemical incomplete response; NED: no evidence of disease; RAI: radioactive iodine; SIR: structural incomplete response; Tg: thyroglobulin.
Age in years, median (percentile) 49 (41 - 55) 52 (49 - 74) 0.389
Gender, female n (percentage) 7 (63.6%) 6 (25.7%) 0.596
T stage 0.135
  1 4 (36.4%) 0
  2 2 (18.2%) 0
  3 4 (36.4%) 5 (71.4%)
  4 1 (9.1%) 2 (28.6%)
Nodal metastasis
  Present, n (percentage) 9 (81.8%) 6 (85.7%) 1
  Number, median, (percentile) 6 (3 - 11) 9 (5 - 17) 0.555
ATA risk classification 0.977
  Low (percentage) 3 (27.3%) 2 (28.6%)
  Intermediate (percentage) 6 (54.5%) 4 (57.1%)
  High (percentage) 2 (18.2%) 1 (14.3%)
First RAI therapy dose (mCi) 150 (100 - 150) 150 (125 - 150) 0.301
First stimulated Tg (ng/mL) 25.65 (15 - 122) 28.1 (13.5 - 132) 0.285
Cause of second RAI therapy 0.002
  SIR 10 (90.9%) 1 (14.3%)
  BIR 1 (9.1%) 6 (85.7%)
Reoperation 9 (81.8%) 2 (28.6%) 0.049
Interval between first and second RAI therapy (days) 359 (319 - 546) 883 (653 - 1,541) 0.285
Second pre on-Tg 0.91 (0.39 - 7.9) 27.79 (7.16 - 130) 0.008
Second pre stimulated Tg 29.06 (2.60 - 44.6) 261.61 (82.5 - 381) 0.003
Second RAI therapy dose (mCi) 150 (150 - 150) 200 (150 - 200) 0.162
Second iodine scan uptake, present (percentage) 3 (27.3%) 4 (57.1%) 0.332
Second post on-Tg 0.86 (0.172 - 1.19) 53.08 (9.67 - 246) 0.002
NED status 5 (45.5%) 4 (57.1%) 1

 

↓  Table 2. Differences in Key Clinical Factors Between the NED and Incomplete Remission Groups After Second RAI Therapy
 
NED (n = 11) Incomplete remission (n = 10) P value
ATA: American Thyroid Association; BIR: biochemical incomplete response; NED: no evidence of disease; RAI: radioactive iodine; SIR: structural incomplete response; Tg: thyroglobulin.
Age, years, median (percentile) 49 (41 - 52) 54 (50 - 60) 0.158
Gender, female number (percentage) 9 (81.8%) 7 (70.0%) 0.635
T stage 1
  1 2 (18.2%) 2 (20.0%)
  2 2 (18.2%) 1 (10.0%)
  3 6 (54.5%) 5 (50.0%)
  4 1 (9.1%) 2 (20.0%)
Nodal metastasis
  Present, number (percentage) 10 (90.9%) 8 (80.0%) 0.586
  Number, median, (percentile) 8 (4 - 16) 6 (2 - 14) 0.972
ATA risk classification 0.059
  Low (percentage) 5 (45.5%) 2 (20.0%)
  Intermediate (percentage) 6 (54.5%) 4 (40.0%)
  High (percentage) 0 4 (40.0%)
First RAI therapy dose (mCi) 150 (100 - 150) 150 (150 - 150) 0.609
First stimulated Tg (ng/mL) 25.65 (7.06 - 50.9) 74.62 (15 - 177) 0.349
Cause of second RAI therapy 1
  SIR 7 (63.6%) 7 (70.0%)
  BIR 4 (36.4%) 3 (30%)
Reoperation 8 (72.7%) 6 (60%) 0.659
Interval between first and second RAI therapy (days) 833 (407 - 1,541) 361.5 (328 - 698) 0.197
Second pre on-Tg 3 (0.397 - 25.6) 6.46 (0.374 - 22.6) 0.916
Second pre stimulated Tg 29.85 (10.1 - 166) 44.61 (2.43 - 171) 0.86
Second RAI therapy dose (mCi) 150 (150 - 150) 150 (150 - 188) 0.492
Second post on-Tg 1.12 (0.185 - 32.5) 1.11 (0.301 - 27.5) 0.916
Tg difference (%) 0 (-22.8 - 10.4) -25.5 (-65.9 - 25.6) 0.86