Clinical Decision-Making for Radioactive Iodine Therapy for Hyperthyroidism: A Group Learning Exercise for Residents

Objectives: In this educational exhibit, we present a 45-60 minute group learning exercise that aims to help learners become more confident in image interpretation, radioactive iodine uptake analysis, and radioactive iodine dose determination in patients with hyperthyroidism. By the end of the group learning session, the learner will be able to: Identify on thyroid scan: Grave's disease, toxic multinodular goiter, toxic adenoma, Hashimoto's disease, and subacute thyroiditis. Interpret the radioactive iodine uptake in relation to the scan. Synthesize uptake, scan, and clinical picture to reach a diagnosis. Present the patient's case to the group, including recommendations for specific dose of radioactive iodine therapy. Methods: In this exhibit, materials and methods for the group learning exercise will be provided. This will include electronic handouts and teaching files outlining scan and uptake interpretation and radioactive iodine dose determination that can be reviewed in 20 to 30 minutes by learners prior to the group learning exercise. Cases will be provided for groups of 3 to 4 residents, with individual learner roles within the group being specified so that the group can come up with a clinical presentation and recommendation regarding radioactive iodine therapy for hyperthyroidism. Group facilitator instruction for leading the case-based group learning exercise will be provided. Materials and methods for the group learning exercise follow modern pedagogical practice. Results: After viewing this exhibit, educators will have a resource that can be utilized as is, modified as desired per individual institution requirements, or built upon for further resident education regarding nuclear medicine and hyperthyroidism therapy. Conclusions: Group learning exercises can be valuable learning tools, particularly in medicine, where different levels of learners can help each other solve case-based problems as a team. We propose an easily implemented, short group learning exercise about hyperthyroidism that may be useful in your academic practice.