Recombinant human thyrotropin-aided versus thyroid hormone withdrawal-aided radioiodine treatment for differentiated thyroid cancer after total thyroidectomy: a meta-analysis.BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
 We conducted a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to compare the effects of recombinant human thyrotropin (rhTSH) and thyroid hormone withdrawal (THW) on thyrotropin stimulation prior to remnant ablation of differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC).



Meta-analysis
We conducted a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to compare the effects of recombinant human thyrotropin (rhTSH) and thyroid hormone withdrawal (THW) on thyrotropin stimulation prior to remnant ablation of differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC).



randomized controlled trials (RCTs)
We conducted a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to compare the effects of recombinant human thyrotropin (rhTSH) and thyroid hormone withdrawal (THW) on thyrotropin stimulation prior to remnant ablation of differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC).



recombinant human thyrotropin (rhTSH)
We conducted a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to compare the effects of recombinant human thyrotropin (rhTSH) and thyroid hormone withdrawal (THW) on thyrotropin stimulation prior to remnant ablation of differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC).



thyroid hormone withdrawal (THW)
Additionally, there were no significant differences in serum thyroglobulin (Tg) levels measured just before radioiodine remnant ablation (preablation thyroglobulin levels) (RR=-0.14, 95% CI: -0.73-0.45, p=0.65), or in days of hospital isolation (RR=-10.51, 95% CI: -32.79-11.73, p=0.35) CONCLUSIONS: Our findings indicate that the administration of rhTSH had resulted in an ablation rate similar to that of THW for DTC patients, but rhTSH provided a better QoL at the time of ablation.
thyroglobulin (Tg) levels
Patients in the rhTSH group had a better quality of life (QoL) than those in the THW group on the day of ablation (RR=3.92, 95% CI: 3.44-5.40, p<0.00001). 
quality of life (QoL)