Dr. Mukherjee on Radioactive Iodine Treatment of Thyroid Cancer and Risk of MDS

Sudipto Mukherjee, MD, associate staff, Department of Hematology and Oncology, Cleveland Clinic, discusses a study examining the association between radioactive iodine treatment of thyroid cancer and the risk for developing myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS).

Researchers in the study examined patients with well-differentiated thyroid cancers, including papillary and follicular thyroid histologies. After surgery, some patients received radioactive iodine as part of their treatment. The study’s purpose was to determine if radioactive iodine led to any short- or long-term effects on bone marrow, ultimately leading to development of MDS, Mukherjee explains.

Results showed that the risk for MDS was higher in the first 2 years following radioactive iodine treatment, as well as at 12 years or greater after treatment. This equates to a bimodal peak distribution of risk, Mukerjee adds.