The classical therapeutic approach to patients with differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) is based on total or near-total thyroidectomy, followed by 131I treatment and thyroid-stimulating hormone suppressive therapy. This approach allows complete cure in many patients, especially when the tumour is diagnosed at an early stage; it also allows long-term survival in patients with locoregional recurrences or distant metastases if they can be treated with 131I. In contrast, when metastatic DTC deposits lose their ability to trap 131I (non-functioning metastases), a worse prognosis is expected. Nevertheless, in patients with locoregional non-functioning recurrences, an early diagnosis and prompt surgical extirpation can lead to a favourable prognosis
