Radioiodine Therapy in a Thyrotoxic Heart Disease Unfit for Surgery—A Case Report

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Introduction: Thyrotoxic heart disease is a complication of hyperthyroidism, which may limit therapeutic options as the cardiac disorder may preclude surgery as a therapy. The role of radioiodine in the presence of complications hyperthyroidism is explored.

Methods: A 68-year-old female patient with thyrotoxic heart disease was examined. The physicians declared her unfit for surgery. The patient had been on carbimazole for 15 years and disease was still uncontrolled.

Results: The patient was given 1,110 MBq of ¹³¹I and the patient was monitored carefully by a multidisciplinary team consisting of the cardiologist, endocrinologist, and nuclear physician to avoid worsening the heart disease. The patient had an uneventful posttherapeutic period.

Discussion: Patients with failed medical therapy in the management have either surgery or radioiodine available to them. Complications of hyperthyroidism such as thyrotoxic heart disease may be exacerbated by radioiodine. Careful patient preparation by cooling patient with antithyroid medication allowed treatment of this patient.

Conclusion: Radioiodine may be a therapeutic option in patients with complications of hyperthyroidism who are unable to undergo surgery. A multidisciplinary team approach yields the best outcomes for complicated hyperthyroidism.

Publication History

Article published online:
25 May 2023