Diuretic-enhanced I-131 clearance after ablation therapy for differentiated thyroid cancer.
The authors assessed whether the whole-body radiation burden can be reduced with diuretic enhancement of iodine-131 excretion in patients with thyroid cancer and slow clearance. Whole-body imaging and quantitative I-131 clearance data obtained before and after ablation therapy were evaluated in 56 patients. Fourteen patients with slow pre-ablation therapy clearance (> 50% retention at 24 hours) received oral diuretics after I-131 therapy. Nine patients began taking furosemide 24 hours after I-131 treatment. Five patients had been receiving thiazide diuretics and were continued on the same dose after treatment. The mean half-time of I-131 clearance for the patients treated with furosemide decreased by 12 hours (P < .05) but was not significantly decreased for those who received thiazides or for the patients who did not receive diuretics. Administration of diuretics can improve I-131 clearance in patients with thyroid cancer and slow clearance, reducing the radiation burden and shortening the hospital stay.
Department of Radiology, University of Iowa College of Medicine, Iowa City 52242.
J E
JE
Seabold
S
S
Ben-Haim
W A
WA
Pettit
N J
NJ
Gurli
M T
MT
Rojeski
M J
MJ
Flanigan
J A
JA
Ponto
J A
JA
Bricker
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001581:Benzothiadiazines; D001822:Body Burden; D002648:Child; D004232:Diuretics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D005665:Furosemide / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes / Q000493:pharmacokinetics* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016634:Radiosurgery; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D049993:Sodium Chloride Symporter Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D014915:Whole-Body Counting
D001581:Benzothiadiazines; D004232:Diuretics; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes; D049993:Sodium Chloride Symporter Inhibitors; D005665:Furosemide