title: Treatment of non-toxic multinodular goiter with radioactive iodine.
abstract: Fourteen patients with large non-toxic multinodular goiters were treated with 20 to 100 mCi (740 to 3,700 MBq) of radioactive iodine (iodine-131). In seven, the goiter had recurred after a partial thyroidectomy and four of these had had two operations. Eight had symptoms of respiratory obstruction, two had dysphagia, and the others sought treatment for cosmetic reasons. After administration of iodine-131, there was a significant decrease in goiter size in 11 of the 14 patients, and all those with obstructive symptoms showed improvement. No significant local side effects occurred, but hypothyroidism and Graves' disease each occurred once during follow-up from one to 13 years. Radioactive iodine in doses of 20 to 100 mCi is an effective, safe therapeutic alternative in patients with large non-toxic multinodular goiter, particularly when there is recurrence following surgery or when there are contraindications to surgery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Diabetes and Endocrinology, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: T W
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Kay
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: d'Emden
authors.forename: J T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Andrews
authors.forename: F I
authors.initials: FI
authors.lastname: Martin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006044:Goiter, Nodular / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012008:Recurrence; D013965:Thyroidectomy; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes