radiojodidihoito

Radiojodidihoito, or radioactive iodine therapy, is a medical treatment that uses radioactive iodine, most often iodine-131, to destroy thyroid tissue. The thyroid concentrates iodine through the sodium-iodide symporter, and iodine-131 emits beta radiation that damages thyroid cells while gamma radiation allows imaging. The treatment is organ-specific and can reduce or eliminate thyroid activity without surgical removal.

Indications include hyperthyroidism due to Graves’ disease, toxic multinodular goiter, or a toxic adenoma, particularly when antithyroid drugs are ineffective or surgery is not desirable. It is also used after thyroid cancer surgery to ablate remaining thyroid tissue and to facilitate monitoring with thyroglobulin measurements and diagnostic scans.

Administration and dosing vary by condition. The medicine is given by mouth as a capsule or liquid. Doses range from low to high, depending on whether the goal is symptom control in hyperthyroidism or ablative therapy in cancer. Preparation may involve thyroid hormone withdrawal for several weeks or the use of recombinant TSH to elevate uptake. Pregnancy and breastfeeding are contraindications during and for a period after treatment; effective contraception is advised for a defined interval.

Safety and side effects are typically mild but can include temporary neck tenderness, dry mouth, and altered taste. The most common long-term outcome is hypothyroidism, requiring lifelong thyroid hormone replacement. Rare risks include sialadenitis, radiation-induced effects, and very small increases in secondary cancer risk at high doses. Radiation safety guidelines may require short-term precautions and, in higher-dose treatments, temporary isolation.

Follow-up includes regular thyroid function tests to adjust levothyroxine if needed; cancer patients are monitored with thyroglobulin and imaging. Radiojodidihoito offers a non-surgical alternative with high efficacy for many thyroid conditions.