Description of the role of a post-operative external beam radiotherapy in patients with differentiated thyroid cancer.

The role of post-operative external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) in differentiated thyroid cancer is still discussed considering the low clinical aggressiveness and the availability of ablative 131Iodine therapy. However, there is a subgroup of tumors which lose the ability to capture Iodine over time. This study wants to describe the role of a post-operative external beam radiotherapy in patients with differentiated thyroid cancer.

Inclusion Criteria:

• detectable thyroglobulin (Tg),
• negative post-metabolic radiotherapy whole body scintigraphy,
• no surgical indications.

Exclusion Criteria:

• prior radiotherapy in the head and neck area
• pregnancy

Patients with locally recurrent thyroid cancer, treated with radical external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) after total thyroidectomy +/- central compartment and/or laterocervical lymphadenectomy, previously treated with one or more cycles of 131 Iodine-ablation (RAI) and TSH suppression.