[Radioiodine treatment in Basedow's disease]

Radioiodine (131I) is the standard treatment for hyperthyroidism with Graves' disease because of ease of performance, relatively low cost and minimal complications. The patient must be followed up regularly at 1-2 year intervals although the risk of "early myxedema" (less than 3%) and the cumulative myxedema rate (less than 2% per year) are now minimized thanks to smaller single doses of radioiodine and to an individualized scheme for dose calculation. For patients in poor condition, 131I should be combined with thyrostatic therapy for at least 2 1/2 months.