Pulmonary Injury after Radioactive Iodine Therapy in Pediatric Papillary Thyroid Cancer: A Case Report.

Introduction: Radiation-induced lung injury is a rare complication of radioactive iodine therapy (RAIT) in pediatric thyroid cancer treatment. In this case report, we describe a pediatric patient with an ERC1::RET-positive classic papillary thyroid carcinoma who developed progressive respiratory symptoms and chest imaging abnormalities following RAIT for lymph node and pulmonary disease.

Case presentation: A pediatric patient with ERC1::RET-positive classic papillary thyroid carcinoma was hospitalized for pulmonary decompensation 3 months following one empiric dose of RAIT. Testing revealed no evidence of infection or progression of pulmonary metastases, and there was no improvement with empiric antibiotic therapy for pneumonia. Despite empiric anti-inflammatory therapies, the patient remains symptomatic from a respiratory standpoint with requirement for supplemental oxygen and evidence of fibrotic changes on chest imaging.

Conclusions: This patient's pulmonary condition is consistent with radiation-induced pulmonary injury including development of pulmonary fibrosis. With the availability of RET fusion-targeted inhibitors, this case highlights a rare pulmonary side effect of radioactive iodine for clinicians to recognize. Upfront targeted therapy protocols may help avoid radioactive iodine-associated adverse reactions.