HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Clark, J. D. Articles by Elgazzar, A. H. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Clark, J. D. Articles by Elgazzar, A. H.

Iodine-131 Therapy of Hyperthyroidism in Pediatric Patients

Division of Nuclear Medicine, Department of Radiology, Children's Hospital, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio

Correspondence: For correspondence or reprints contact: Michael J. Gelfand, MD, Section of Nuclear Medicine, Department of Radiology, Children's Hospital, 3333 Burnet Ave., Cincinnati, OH 45229-3039.

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this retrospective study was to evaluate the utility of ¹³¹I as therapy for hyperthyroidism in children and to evaluate its short-term side effects. Methods: The results of ¹³¹I therapy of hyperthyroidism were evaluated in a group of 35 pediatric patients. Results: In 29 patients propylthiouracil or methimazole therapy was abandoned due to noncompliance (13), relapse or failure to control hyperthyroidism (13), vasculitis (1), neutropenia (1) or a lupus-like syndrome (1). Average treatment activity was 7.7 ± 2.9 (s.d.) mCi, corresponding to 0.16 ± 0.03 mCi/g. Thirty patients (86%) received a single radioiodine treatment and five (14%) were retreated. In patients who became hypothyroid after a single dose, hypothyroidism was noted within 100 days of treatment. Clinical management problems included vomiting in four patients and enuresis in four patients. Mild radiation thyroiditis occurred in one patient and nodularity was noted after therapy in two patients. Conclusion: Iodine-131 is effective for both initial treatment of hyperthyroidism and the treatment of medical treatment failures in pediatric patients. Awareness of vomiting and enuresis as potential management problems is crucial when using ¹³¹I in this age group. Therefore, special treatment precautions maybe required.

Key Words: radioiodine therapy • hyperthyroidism • iodine-131

This article has been cited by other articles:

				S. A. Rivkees and E. A. Cornelius Influence of Iodine-131 Dose on the Outcome of Hyperthyroidism in Children Pediatrics, April 1, 2003; 111(4): 745 - 749. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]