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course 2 - training_mb
Context
Pediatric differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) patients frequently present with lymph node and/or distant (lung) metastases. Such patients warrant an aggressive treatment consisting of surgical removal of all surgically accessible local metastases as well as further treatment with one or more courses of radioiodine therapy (RAI). It is still a subject of debate in literature how much I-131 should be administered to pediatric patients. Patients can either be given a fixed (possibly body weight adjusted) activity or a dosimetry based activity, which is often considerably higher.
Target Audience
Objective
Here, we will present a typical case of a pediatric patient who was treated using a dosimetric approach. Then we will discuss the basis of dosimetry and the procedures involved, followed by a discussion of when to use dosimetric RAI as well as the pros and cons of the various approaches in pediatric patients.
Learning Objectives
Results
In general, two opposite approaches to dosimetry exist: either the activity that is as high as safely administrable (AHASA) is determined based on the radiation exposure to the critical organs at risk (in pediatric patients these are the bone marrow and, in patients with lung metastases, the lungs), or a lesion-based approach in which the activity that is required to deliver a certain radiation dose to the metastatic lesion(s) is determined.
Authors, editors, and Endocrine Society staff involved in planning this JCEM Journal-based CME activity are required to disclose to The Endocrine Society and to learners any relevant financial relationship(s) of the individual or spouse/partner that have occurred within the last 12 months with any commercial interest(s) whose products or services are discussed in the CME content. The Endocrine Society has reviewed all disclosures and resolved all identified conflicts of interest.
The following authors reported relevant financial relationships:
Frederik A. Verburg, M.D., Ph.D., has received speakers' fees and research support from Genzyme Corp. and is a paid member of an advisory board for Roche Healthcare. Christoph Reiners, M.D., has received speakers' fees and research support from Genzyme Corp.