The use of radioactive iodine (RAI) to treat low-risk thyroid cancer appears to be common, despite contrary guideline advice, a US survey suggests.

Using data from the Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) registries for Georgia and Los Angeles County, the researchers identified adults with low-risk thyroid cancer and linked them to their treating general surgeons, otolaryngologists and endocrinologists.

Patients were only eligible if they fell into categories for which no or selective RAI use was recommended by the American Thyroid Association’s 2009 RAI guidelines.

Hence the study was limited to those who had follicular or papillary histology; tumour sizes less than 4cm; and T0, T1, T2, or T3 disease; and had undergone total thyroidectomy.