What role does external beam radiotherapy play in the treatment of well differentiated papillary thyroid cancer when a total thyroidectomy and lymph node dissection cannot be performed?
In the case of a partial resection with focal perineural invasion, but no lymphadenectomy due to severe fibrosis from prior radio-ablation for hyperthyroidism, is there a role for EBRT or additional RAI?
Answer from: Radiation Oncologist at Academic Institution
Following a partial thyroidectomy (meaning less than a near-total extirpation and gross residual disease), the role of RAI is unproven and the likelihood of morbidity is real. In terms of XRT, and in a patient with reasonable co-morbidities, I would offer XRT to 60-66 Gy. Keep an eye on s...
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