Radioiodine therapy for thyroid volume reduction of large goitres

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effect of radioiodine therapy for volume reduction in large goitres. METHODSA retrospective study was performed involving 88 patients treated between 2001 and 2007 with radioiodine for toxic or nontoxic goitres. The goitres were between 80 and 250 ml in volume (median 127 ml±38.57). Activities of I to be administered were calculated individually through radioiodine testing with uptake measurements over 5 days, the mean activity being 1721±440 MBq I (714–2395 MBq I), equivalent to a mean of 14±4.19 MBq I/g of thyroid tissue (6–24 MBq I/g of thyroid tissue). The designated dose was 150 Gy for the entire thyroid volume, and post-therapeutic dosimetry revealed a mean thyroid dose of 175±45.92 Gy (64–300 Gy). Control examinations were performed, including thyroid blood testing and thyroid ultrasound at 6 weeks and at 3, 6, 12, 24, 36, 48 and 72 months after radioiodine therapy. RESULTSThe mean volume reduction was 41.9% after 3 months and 65.9% after 1 year. Thyroid volume reduction was highly significant (P