What is Radioactive Iodine Treatment?

Radioactive iodine treatment is a medical therapy for people with thyroid dysfunction, intended to ablate thyroid tissue so it will stop producing hormones. In this treatment, the patient takes a small dose of a radioactive iodine isotope. Since the thyroid accumulates iodine, the isotope collects in thyroid cells only, damaging the cells and then being expressed by the body. A scan can be performed after the treatment to confirm the elimination of thyroid tissue. The patient will have to follow the treatment with hormone therapy to replace the hormones no longer being produced by the thyroid.

Doctors recommend radioactive iodine treatment for the management of thyroid cancer and conditions that cause hyperthyroidism, like Grave's disease. These conditions lead to metabolic imbalances over time as the patient's endocrine system is disrupted. Before treatment, patients may take a small amount of a tracer material so a scan can be performed to see how much thyroid tissue is present in the body. This scan will be compared with the results of a second scan after treatment to see how well the patient responded.

In inpatient radioactive iodine treatment, a patient is admitted to a hospital for the treatment and stays there for several days. This is done to monitor the patient's response to treatment and also for safety, as patients will be temporarily radioactive and can pose health risks to people around them. While in the hospital, the patient will be isolated and checked until the radiation levels decline and the patient can be released. Any materials brought in with the patient will stay in the room, and some isolation rooms are well stocked with books, movies, and other entertainment for patients waiting for their radioactive iodine treatment to be complete.

For outpatient treatment, patients take the dose of iodine, are monitored for a short period, and then released. Patients undergoing outpatient treatment must use special precautions including using separate linens and plates, washing all their own personal belongings, and staying away from young children and people who are ill. These precautions are intended to limit radiation exposure associated with the treatment.

While radioactive iodine treatment can sound intimidating because of the radiation, risks for the patient are relatively low. Patients may feel nauseous and unpleasant during the initial days of treatment, but once the radioactive material has been eliminated, they should feel much better. It is important to go to follow up appointments to monitor hormone levels, as the patient will require life-long monitoring to confirm that the hormones being taken are working effectively.