This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Submit a related Letter to the Editor Purchase Article View Shopping Cart Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Copyright Permission Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Eustatia-Rutten, C. F. A. Articles by Smit, J. W. A. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Eustatia-Rutten, C. F. A. Articles by Smit, J. W. A.

Outcome of Palliative Embolization of Bone Metastases in Differentiated Thyroid Carcinoma

Departments of Endocrinology (C.F.A.E.-R., J.A.R., M.J.G., E.P.M.C., A.M.P., J.W.A.S.) and Radiology (G.J.V., R.v.d.B.), Leiden University Medical Center, 2300 RC Leiden, The Netherlands

Address all correspondence to: J. A. Romijn, M.D., Ph.D., Department of Endocrinology, C4-R, Leiden University Medical Center, P.O. Box 9600, 2300 RC Leiden, The Netherlands. E-mail: j.a.romijn{at}lumc.nl.

We investigated the effects of selective embolization in patients with symptomatic bone metastases of differentiated thyroid carcinoma. A total of 41 embolizations was performed in 16 patients. We studied the follow-up (range, 2 months to 8.6 yr) after the first embolization by evaluation of clinical symptoms and tumor dimensions. Success was defined as an improvement in clinical symptoms without tumor progression. The procedure was successful in 24 of 41 occasions (59%). Twenty-six embolizations were preceded or followed up by additional therapies, consisting of surgery (laminectomy), external irradiation, or radioiodine. Subgroup analysis revealed that these additional therapies did not influence the success rate; however, a potential effect on success duration may be present: for embolizations without additional radioiodine or external irradiation therapy, the median success duration was 6.5 months; for embolizations combined with additional radioiodine or external irradiation, this was 15 months (P = 0.0146). The ultimate outcome of the patients was unfavorable: nine patients died and five patients have progressive disease. We concluded that selective embolization of bone metastases may be considered a palliative therapy that may induce rapid, but transient, relief of symptoms. Combination with radioiodine or external irradiation may prolong the duration of success.

Abbreviations: CT, Computerized tomography; MRI, magnetic resonance imaging.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				M M Muresan, P Olivier, J Leclere, F Sirveaux, L Brunaud, M Klein, R Zarnegar, and G Weryha Bone metastases from differentiated thyroid carcinoma Endocr. Relat. Cancer, March 1, 2008; 15(1): 37 - 49. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				E. Hindie, P. Zanotti-Fregonara, I. Keller, F. Duron, J.-Y. Devaux, M. Calzada-Nocaudie, E. Sarfati, J.-L. Moretti, P. Bouchard, and M.-E. Toubert Bone metastases of differentiated thyroid cancer: impact of early 131I-based detection on outcome Endocr. Relat. Cancer, September 1, 2007; 14(3): 799 - 807. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Dedecjus, J. Tazbir, Z. Kaurzel, A. Lewinski, G. Strozyk, and J. Brzezinski Selective embolization of thyroid arteries as a preresective and palliative treatment of thyroid cancer Endocr. Relat. Cancer, September 1, 2007; 14(3): 847 - 852. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]