Shortened telomere length in peripheral blood leukocytes is associated with cumulative radioactive iodine doses in patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma.

In patients with thyroid cancer who underwent total thyroidectomy, peripheral blood leukocyte telomere length exhibited a significant association with cumulative RAI dose higher than 22.2 GBq. These results suggest the possibility of telomere length shortening in patients who undergo high-dose RAI treatment.