Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of recombinant human TSH(rhTSH)-aided 131I treatment for DTC.Methods A total of 144 patients with DTC who underwent total or near total thyroidectomy were retrospectively analyzed.The rhTSH-aided 131I treatment of 3.7 GBq was performed in 72 cases (Group Ⅰ:euthyroid).Another 72 cases received radioiodine ablation treatment of 3.7 GBq after 4 to 6 weeks of thyroxine withdrawal (Group Ⅱ:hypothyroidism).Serum endogenous TSH,FT3,FT4 and Tg were measured.The life qualities of both groups were observed,such as intolerance to cold,weight gain,constipation,motor retardation,skin dryness,periorbital edema and bone pain.Absence of visible uptake or uptake rate less than 1% was taken as complete ablation.The efficacy of 131I treatment was evaluated.The life quality of both groups was evaluated byx2 test,and the effect of 131I treatment was analyzed by t test.Results Serum TSH was effectively improved in both groups before 131I treatment.In group Ⅰ,TSH was higher than that of group Ⅱ ((141.26 ± 27.30) mU/L vs (70.57 ± 51.13) mU/L; t =2.435,P <0.05),and FT3,FT4 were not significantly different before or after the injection of rhTSH.Tg was well stimulated in both groups with no statistical difference.Group Ⅱ exhibited more side effects,which included intolerance to cold 80.56%(58/72),weight gain 86.11% (62/72),constipation 15.28% (11/72),motor retardation 22.22% (16/72),skin dryness 56.94% (41/72),bone pain 2.78% (2/72),and no periorbital edema was found.Group Ⅰ had a higher quality of life than group Ⅱ,only few side effects were observed including dizziness and nausea 2.78% (2/72),bone pain 2.78% (2/72),and transient tachycardia 1.39% (1/72).The effect of 131I treatment was evaluated by whole body scans with a diagnostic dose of 131I.The complete ablation rate was 70.83% (51/72) in group I and 66.67% (48/72) in group Ⅱ(x2 =0.58,P > 0.05).Conclusion The rhTSH-aided 131I treatment can effectively improve patients' life quality and acquire satisfactory 131I ablation efficacy. Key words: Thyroid neoplasms ; Thyrotropin ; Recombinant; Radiotherapy; Iodine radioisotopes