External radiation therapy in the treatment of thyroid malignancy.

The use of external beam radiation therapy in the management of thyroid malignancy is reviewed. Information from retrospective studies is presented and critically appraised as to the situations in which radiotherapy may be of benefit when used as part of initial treatment in the various thyroid malignancies. in particular, the role of external beam radiation and adjuvant treatment in addition to iodine-131 in differentiated thyroid cancer in medullary thyroid cancer are discussed.