Radioactive Iodine use for thyroid problems

More documents

Recommendations

Info

* Thyroid nodules: generally benign thyroid neoplasms, but may also be thyroid cancers. There most common types of thyroid cancers are papillary carcinoma and follicular carcinoma. The treatment with RAI (Radioactive Iodine): The RAI treatment is based on the fact that the thyroid accumulates iodine and uses it in order to produce the mentioned hormones, which are required for normal body function. This RAI is just like the iodine found in foods such as fish and iodized salt, except that it releases an electron, or beta particle, which creates its therapeutic action. There are two radioactive isotopes which are commonly used in patients with thyroid disorders: s: I-123, which is harmless to thyroid cells, and I- 131, which destroys thyroid cells. The radiation emitted by each of them can be detected from outside the patient's body in order to gain information about thyroid function and take pictures of the size and location of thyroid tissues. The RAI is given to the patients by mouth in pill or in liquid form. Usually, the harmless to thyroid cells I-123 is used to take pictures and determine the activity of the intact thyroid gland (Thyroid Scan and Radioactive Iodine Uptake - RAIU). One benefit of the use of I-123 is the fact that there are no special radiation precautions necessary after a thyroid scan or RAIU.
I-131 can also be used to take pictures of the thyroid gland, although it is rarely used due to its harmful effects on thyroid cells. The hyperthyroidism disease used to be treated by the use of Beta Blockers drugs, but due to the side-effects of these drugs, and the problematic use of drugs in many countries, some patients prefer the RAI iodine-131 treatment. RAI is used in order to destroy a part of the thyroid gland or the whole gland, since the radioactive iodine is selectively taken up by the gland and gradually destroys the cells of the gland. The RAI treatment may take up to several months to have its effect, beginning about two weeks after the treatment. Alternatively, the gland may be partially or entirely removed surgically, but iodine treatment is usually preferred by patients, because the surgery is invasive and also risks the nerves controlling the vocal cords and the parathyroid. If the entire thyroid gland is removed, another thyroid disease appears – Hypothyroidism, which is treated by thyroid hormone replacement. The I-131 RAI is also given in order to shrink thyroid glands that are functioning normally but are causing problems because of their size, as with the Goiter brochure. Large doses of I-131 are used to destroy thyroid cancer cells. Radiation safety precautions after the RAI treatment: Although the treatments with 131-I are generally safe, it's obvious that RAI produces some radiation. Therefore, patients must do their best to avoid radiation exposure to others, particularly to pregnant women and young children. Patients may have to stay isolated in the hospital for about 24 hours to avoid exposing the radiation to others. The amount of radiation exposure markedly decreases as the distance from the patient increases. Patients who need to travel in the days after I-131 RAI treatment are carrying a letter of explanation from their physician, because radiation detection devices used at airports or in federal buildings could identify the smallest radiation levels.
Page 1: Written by: Matan Feldman, 20372360

Radioactive Iodine use for thyroid problems

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?