What Is Radioiodine Therapy?
Radioiodine therapy is the use of radioactive iodine for the treatment of thyroid cancer and hyperthyroidism. Iodine is selectively concentrated and retained by thyroid gland in the human body.
Radioiodine Therapy
How Does Radioiodine Therapy Work?
The requisite quantity of radioiodine (Iodine-131) is given to the patient orally. The radioiodine is absorbed from the stomach into the blood. Subsequently, the radioiodine is delivered to the thyroid or thyroid cancer tissue.The delivered radiation then kills the cancer cells or the thyroid tissue.
How Safe Is Radioiodine Therapy?
Radioiodine therapy is quite safe and many decades of experience has validated it’s safety. However, like all treatments it is not free of side effects and benefit of therapy needs to be measured against risk of side effects before giving this treatment. However, overall the side effect profile is very good.
What Is the Evidence for Radioiodine Therapy?
Radioiodine has the highest level of evidence (randomized phase III clinical trial) proving its effectiveness. Over the many decades of experience, radioiodine therapy has become the systemic treatment of choice for differentiated thyroid cancer.
In Which Patients Is Radioiodine Therapy Useful?
Radioiodine therapy is currently used in patients with differentiated (non-medullary)thyroid cancer. Radioiodine therapy is also used in patients with hyperthyroidism (Graves disease, toxic adenoma and toxic multi-nodular goitre).