Definition Radioiodine therapy (abbreviated RIT) or radioiodine therapy (RJT) is a special form of irradiation that is used exclusively for various benign and malignant diseases of the thyroid gland. The patient is usually administered a special type of iodine in tablet form, which emits radioactive radiation. The body treats it like normal iodine and absorbs … Radioiodine therapy
Procedure Radioiodine therapy No special preparation is often required in the run-up to radioiodine therapy. For certain indications, however, a 4-week intake of thyroid hormone preparations is usually required in advance. This so-called suppression treatment feigns excessive hormone production in the body and thus reduces the thyroid control hormone (TSH). This in turn leads to … Procedure Radioiodine therapy | Radioiodine therapy
Side effects of radioiodine therapy Radioiodine therapy has few side effects. Since the radiation used is emitted by radioactive iodine, which is mainly absorbed by the thyroid gland, the rest of the body is spared. After treatment, a temporarily painful inflammatory reaction of the thyroid gland (radiation thyroiditis) may occur in about one of 20 … Side effects of radioiodine therapy | Radioiodine therapy
Advantages of radioiodine therapy The main advantage of radioiodine therapy over surgery is that only thyroid tissue is destroyed, while other organs and tissues are spared. There is no need to make an incision, no anesthesia is required and no scar remains. Radioiodine therapy has few side effects and the risks associated with surgery are … Advantages of radioiodine therapy | Radioiodine therapy
Duration of treatment with radioiodine therapy How long radioiodine therapy lasts can vary greatly from person to person and cannot necessarily be predicted in advance. It depends on the size of the irradiated thyroid volume and the radioactivity administered. The patient may only be discharged from the ward when the radiation emitted by the patient … Duration of treatment with radioiodine therapy | Radioiodine therapy
