[Radioiodine therapy of thyrotoxicosis in a central hospital]

The aim of this study was to assess the results of 131-I therapy on hyperthyroidism. 131-I doses were individually calculated on the basis of thyroid gland classification, size and iodine-uptake. All patients were pretreated with propylthiouracil or methimazole. Seventy-nine patients treated with radio-iodine during the period 1.3.81-1.6.88 were followed up. The period of observation was 12-100 months (median 57). After eight years and four months the cumulative incidence of hypothyroidism was 45%, being 69% for diffuse goitre, 31% for multinodular goitre and 24% for solitary adenoma. A Cox-analysis showed a significantly greater cumulative incidence of hypothyroidism in patients with diffuse goitre as opposed to non-diffuse. From our data we conclude that radio-iodine therapy of hyperthyroidism with individually calculated doses of 131-I is a satisfactory method, assuming that patients are subjected to lifelong follow-up.