title: The feasibility of high dose iodine 131 treatment as an alternative to surgery in patients with a very large goiter: effect on thyroid function and size and pulmonary function.
abstract: Some patients with very large goiters (>150 mL) are not candidates for surgery. We evaluated the feasibility of high dose 131I in such patients. Twenty-three patients (2 men and 21 women; median age, 67 yr; range, 42-86 yr) with very large goiter (8 toxic) were treated with calculated high dose 131I [median, 2281 megabecquerels (61.6 mCi); range, 988-4620 megabecquerels (26.7-124.9 mCi)]. During the 12-month observation period, goiter reduction and tracheal anatomy were monitored by magnetic resonance imaging, and the respiratory capacity was monitored by pulmonary function tests. Five patients (22%) developed hypothyroidism. Thyroid volumes were at baseline, after 1 week, and after 1 yr [mean +/- SEM, 311 +/- 28, 314 +/- 26 (P = NS), and 215 +/- 26 (P < 0.01) mL]. The relative changes 1 week after therapy ranged from -14.1% to 15.3%. After 1 yr the mean size was reduced by 33.9% (range, 13.5-61.4%). Only the initial goiter size showed a significant negative correlation to the percent reduction. The smallest cross-sectional area of the trachea decreased 9.2% within 1 week after treatment, but eventually emerged with a 17.9% larger area [mean +/- SEM, 84.3 +/- 4.8, 75.5 +/- 5.1 (P < 0.01), and 98.2 +/- 6.0 (P < 0.01) mm2]. The inspiratory parameter, FIF50%, improved after an initial insignificant decline [baseline therapy, after 1 week, after 3 months, and after 1 yr (mean +/- SEM), 2.37 +/- 0.24, 2.20 +/- 0.21 (P = NS), 2.51 +/- 0.23 (P = NS), and 2.76 +/- 0.25 (P = 0.01) L/s]. FIF50% correlated significantly with the smallest cross-sectional tracheal area (baseline, 1 week, and 1 yr: r = 0.74; P < 0.001, r = 0.63; P < 0.005, and r = 0.46; P < 0.05). Changes in tracheal anatomy did not correlate with changes in either lung dynamics or goiter size. In conclusion, very large goiters can be reduced by a third, on the average, with high dose 131I therapy without any initial clinically significant tracheal compression. Tracheal cross-sectional area as well as pulmonary inspiratory capacity improve. No serious adverse effects are seen.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, Odense University Hospital, Denmark. steen.bonnema@dadlnet.dk
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Bonnema
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bertelsen
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mortensen
authors.forename: P B
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Andersen
authors.forename: D U
authors.initials: DU
authors.lastname: Knudsen
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bastholt
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hegedüs
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006042:Goiter / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D006801:Humans; D007320:Inspiratory Capacity / Q000528:radiation effects; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008168:Lung / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000528:radiation effects; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000528:radiation effects; D014132:Trachea / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000528:radiation effects
chemical_list: D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes