Recurrent papillary and follicular thyroid cancer

Approximately 10% to 30% of patients thought to be disease free after initial treatment develop recurrence and/or metastases. Of these patients, approximately 80% develop recurrence with disease in the neck alone, and 20% develop recurrence with distant metastases. The lungs are the most common site of distant metastasis. In a single series of 289 patients who developed recurrences after initial surgery, 16% died of cancer at a median time of 5 years after recurrence.[5]

The prognosis for patients with clinically detectable recurrences is generally poor, regardless of cell type.[30] Patients with local or regional tumor recurrence detected only by 131I scan have a better prognosis.[31]

The selection of further treatment depends on many factors, including:

Patients treated for differentiated thyroid cancer are monitored carefully with physical examinations, serum quantitative thyroglobulin levels, and radiological studies based on individual risk for recurrent disease.[32]

Treatment options for recurrent papillary and follicular thyroid cancer

Treatment options for recurrent papillary and follicular thyroid cancer include: