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Acute changes in thyroid volume and function following 131 I therapy of multinodular goitre
Author(s) -
Nygaard Birte,
Faber Jens,
Hegedüs Laszlo
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
clinical endocrinology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.055
H-Index - 147
eISSN - 1365-2265
pISSN - 0300-0664
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2265.1994.tb02784.x
Subject(s) - medicine , multinodular goitre , thyroid , thyroid function , endocrinology , thyroid function tests , thyroidectomy , multinodular goiter , gastroenterology
Summary OBJECTIVE Many textbooks claim that radioIodine ( 131 I) treatment should be given with care to a goitre with substernal extension, for fear of acute swelling of the gland and thus respiratory problems. Since 131 I Is used increasingly in the treatment of non‐toxic as well as toxic goitre we have evaluated the acute changes in thyroid volume following 131 I therapy. DESIGN Evaluation of potential acute changes in thyroid volume and function after 131 I treatment in patients with non‐toxic goitre treated because of compression symptoms or for cosmetic reasons, as well as In patients with toxic goitre. PATIENTS Out‐patients with multinodular goitre, either non‐toxic ( n = 20) or toxic ( n = 10). Excluded were patients with a substernal goitre. MEASUREMENTS Ultrasonically determined thyroid volume and standard thyroid function variables were Investigated before and 2, 7, 14, 21, 28 and 35 days after treatment. RESULTS In non‐toxic goitres the thyroid volume did not increase significantly, the maximum increase in the median volume being 4% on day 7. Serum levels of free T3 and free T4 Indices increased by 20% (day 7) and 13% (day 14) ( P = 0·002), respectively. Likewise thyroid volume in toxic nodular goitre did not change significantly after 131 I treatment (maximum median increase was 2%). None of the patients presented symptoms of tracheal compression. CONCLUSIONS 131 I treatment of non‐toxic as well as toxic multinodular goitre does not seem to increase thyroid volume.