Abstract
Objective:
Radioiodine is the mainstay of the treatment of thyroid hyperfunction. However, it
is difficult to apply the appropriate amount of radioidone to achieve optimal efficacy
with the least possible adverse effects. Results of the investigation on the efficacy
of a relatively new protocol for radioiodine treatment of hyperthyroidism are reported.
Design:
A retrospective evaluation of data from 326 patients with a mean average follow-up
of 5.7 (1.0–11.7) years was performed. 64% of these patients suffered from Graves’
disease and 36% had uni- or multinodular toxic goitre.
Results:
In Graves’ disease, the recurrence rate was 5% 1 year after the treatment, and that
remained the same after 5 years. In toxic goitre, these rates were 6 and 7%, respectively.
After 5 years 70% of the patients with autonomous adenomas were euthyroid, while 78%
of the Graves patients developed hypothyroidism and 17% showed euthyroid state. A
relationship between the lack of normalisation of thyroid-stimulating hormone levels
after radioiodine treatment and the increased recurrence of late hyperthyroidism has
also been established in patients with Graves’s disease.
Conclusion:
Compared to the available data published in the literature, the success rate of the
treatment is fairly high confirming the effectiveness of our protocol.
Key words
Graves’ disease - toxic adenoma - radioiodine therapy
