Aspects of timing and selection of cases in radioiodine therapy and percutaneous irradiation of well differentiated carcinoma of the thyroid.

142 patients with well differentiated carcinoma of the thyroid were treated postoperatively by radioiodine and percutaneous irradiation according to a fixed schedule. Institution of radioiodine treatment and percutaneous irradiation within 6 months after surgery resulted in a low incidence of local tumor recurrences or of newly formed metastases, and in a high survival rate. Criteria are given, by which postoperative percutaneous irradiation may be omitted without risking impairment of therapeutical results.