I am unsure which is the better approach for radioiodine treatment and remnant ablation. Do you opt for thyroid hormone withdrawal or injections of rTSH? I was initially recommended withdrawal until I mentioned that I knew about injections and then it was left up to me. Do both techniques give similar elevations of TSH levels? Are both techniques equally as sensitive at detecting residual cancers in subsequent scans. Is one technique superior to the other for ensuring ablation of residual tissue?. If both are equal, why then allow people to undergo withdrawal and have all the symptoms of hypothyroidism and poorer quality of life pre and post scan? (It does take time for the thyroid hormone levels to rise after reintroduction). I understand that trials have been carried out comparing both methods and there appears no difference in ablation success. I think that clinicians need to decide one way or another. We have enough to contend with without being hypothyroid as well.
