[Treatment of hyperthyroidism by radioactive iodine in France].

A change in ideas concerning the use of radioactive iodine in the treatment of hyperthyroidism has revived interest in this therapy. We report the results of an enquiry conducted in all French nuclear medicine units regarding their activity in 1985 and compare these results with those of a similar enquiry conducted simultaneously in Belgium. The amount of radioactive iodine administered in France was one-half of that administered in Belgium. Regional differences were quite marked in France, probably due to different schools of thought. Diffuse hyperthyroidism accounted for two-thirds of the indications. Most patients received one single dose. The primary objective was a return to euthyroidism, but one third of the units accepted the risk of hypothyroidism. Synthetic antithyroid drugs were often used as adjuvants. In one-half of the units, the radioactive dose administered to each patient was calculated from the effective period of the radioelement and from the thyroid mass. In 1 out of 3 units the patients were hospitalized in a controlled area for a mean period of 3 days. French doctors generally respected the 40-year age limit and systematically excluded children and teenagers. Long-term follow-up was carried out in only 50 per cent of the units.