Aim
Provides an opportunity to pilot and evaluate new technologies within 'real world' clinical settings in the Queensland context.
Outcomes
The potential benefits of this technology includes:
- 1-124 therapy will provide high-resolution imaging for improved disease investigation and staging.
- There will be a reduction in unnecessary hospital admissions where I-131 is likely to be ineffective.
- I-124 treatment should be well tolerated by patients, and most should be comfortable during the investigation.
- I-131 treatment will only be delivered to patients where demonstrated to be of benefit.
- Personalised dosimetry will calculate the correct I-131 dose for treatment, for improved disease control.
- Anticipated cost savings will allow for reinvestment into other treatment services.
Background
For thyroid cancer, surgical resection is the most common treatment. Following surgery, radioactive iodine (RAI) therapy with iodine-131 (I-131) is usually given for advanced cancers. Patients currently receive a standardised ‘blind’ empiric dose of I-131 based upon clinicopathologic risk stratification.
This technology was funded through the New Technology Funding and Evaluation Program (NTFEP). The NTFEP funds the introduction and evaluation of new technologies that:
- Are safe and effective
- Provide better health outcomes
- Provide value for money
- Provide greater access to care.
The evaluation findings will inform recommendations regarding the future use and/or investment of the technology within Queensland.
