Hyperthyroidism Slideshow Pictures Take the Thyroid Disorder Quiz Thyroid Symptoms and Solutions Slideshow Pictures

Medical Author:

Stephanie L Lee, MD, PhD, FACE

Coauthor:

Sonia Ananthakrishnan, MD

Medical Editor:

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, Chief Medical Editor

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, Chief Medical Editor

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, is a U.S. board-certified Anatomic Pathologist with subspecialty training in the fields of Experimental and Molecular Pathology. Dr. Stöppler's educational background includes a BA with Highest Distinction from the University of Virginia and an MD from the University of North Carolina. She completed residency training in Anatomic Pathology at Georgetown University followed by subspecialty fellowship training in molecular diagnostics and experimental pathology.

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Radioactive Iodine

• Effect: damages the thyroid cells that make thyroid hormone. This is the most common permanent treatment of hyperthyroidism in the United States.
• Indications:
• Graves' disease
• Toxic multinodular goiter
• Toxic adenoma
• Contraindications:
• During pregnancy, radioactive iodine may destroy fetal thyroid tissue.
• Breastfeeding women may pass radioactive iodine through breast milk.
• A six month waiting period before pregnancy is suggested after therapy.
• Risks:
• Most patients treated become hypothyroid and require lifelong thyroid hormone replacement therapy
• Elderly patients and cardiac patients have increased risk of ¹³¹I-(radioactive iodine)-induced thyroiditis