Treatment of hyperthyroidism with radioactive iodine.

Treatment of hyperthyroidism with RAI has been performed for more than a half century with efficacy and safety. For its optimal use, the physician must employ appropriate patient selection criteria and clinical judgment concerning pretreatment patient preparation. The dose of the 131I needed remains an area of uncertainty and debate; thus far, it has not been possible to resolve the trade-off between efficient definitive cure of hyperthyroidism and the high incidence of post-therapy hypothyroidism. Early side effects are uncommon and readily manageable. Other than the need for long-term monitoring and, in most cases, lifelong L-T4 treatment, late adverse consequences of this treatment remain only conjectural. The available follow-up studies support the current majority opinion of North American thyroid specialists that RAI treatment is an excellent choice for most hyperthyroid patients.