Radioactive iodine: unnecessary for some thyroid cancer patients?

NCT ID NCT01398085

First seen Jun 24, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

This study looks at whether low-risk thyroid cancer patients need radioactive iodine treatment after having their thyroid removed. About 504 participants are randomly assigned to receive either a standard dose of radio-iodine or no radio-iodine at all. The goal is to see if skipping this treatment affects cancer recurrence or survival, potentially sparing patients from unnecessary side effects.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance

Radioactive iodine (I131)

What this could lead to

If successful, this could show that many low-risk thyroid cancer patients can safely skip radioactive iodine treatment, avoiding its side effects.

What could go wrong

This is an early-to-mid stage trial with 504 participants, so results may not apply to all patients. There is a risk that skipping radio-iodine could lead to higher recurrence rates.

Disclaimer Read more

This is a summary of the original study . Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

differentiated thyroid carcinoma thyroid cancer Thyroid Cancer, Papillary thyroid gland follicular carcinoma thyroid gland papillary carcinoma thyroid Hurthle cell carcinoma Thyroid Neoplasms thyroid tumor

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

Contacts and locations

Locations

  • Barts Health NHS Trust

    London, United Kingdom

  • Belfast Health and Social Care Trust

    Belfast, BT9 7AB, United Kingdom

  • Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

    Cambridge, CB2 0QQ, United Kingdom

  • East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust

    Canterbury, CT1 3NG, United Kingdom

  • East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust

    Stevenage, SG1 4AB, United Kingdom

  • Glasgow and Clyde NHS Trust

    Glasgow, G12 0YN, United Kingdom

  • Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Trust

    Cheltenham, United Kingdom

  • Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust

    London, United Kingdom

  • Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

    Hull, HU16 5JU, United Kingdom

  • Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust

    London, W6 8RF, United Kingdom

  • Ipswich Hospital NHS Trust

    Ipswich, IP4 5PD, United Kingdom

  • Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

    Leeds, LS9 7TF, United Kingdom

  • Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust

    Maidstone, ME16 9QQ, United Kingdom

  • Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust

    Chelmsford, United Kingdom

  • NHS Lothian

    Edinburgh, EH4 2XU, United Kingdom

  • Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

    Newcastle, NE7 7DN, United Kingdom

  • Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

    Norwich, United Kingdom

  • Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust

    Nottingham, NG5 1PB, United Kingdom

  • Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust

    Portsmouth, PO6 3LY, United Kingdom

  • Royal Derby Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

    Derby, DE223NE, United Kingdom

  • Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

    Exeter, EX2 5DW, United Kingdom

  • Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust

    London, SW3 6JJ, United Kingdom

  • Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust

    Wolverhampton, United Kingdom

  • Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

    Sheffield, S10 2SJ, United Kingdom

  • South Tees Hospitals NHS Trust

    Middlesbrough, TS4 3BW, United Kingdom

  • Southend University Hospitals NHS Trust

    Southend, SS0 0RY, United Kingdom

  • The Christie NHS Foundation Trust

    Manchester, M20 4BX, United Kingdom

  • The Royal Surrey County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

    Guildford, GU1 4JW, United Kingdom

  • University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

    London, United Kingdom

  • University Hospital Bristol NHS Foundation Trust

    Bristol, BS1 3NU, United Kingdom

  • University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust

    Birmingham, United Kingdom

  • University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust

    Poole, DT1 2JY, United Kingdom

  • University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust

    Brighton, BN2 5BE, United Kingdom

  • University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust

    Leicester, LE1 5WW, United Kingdom

  • University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust

    Stoke-on-Trent, ST4 6QG, United Kingdom

  • Velindre NHS Trust

    Cardiff, CF15 7QZ, United Kingdom