radioactive iodine therapy
- radioactive iodine therapy
the administration of an estimated amount of the radioactive isotope iodine-131 as a drink in order to treat an overactive thyroid gland (
see thyrotoxicosis). The iodine concentrates in the thyroid and thus delivers its beta radiation locally, with little effect on other tissues. The gland will shrink and become euthyroid over the succeeding 8-12 weeks but there is a high incidence of subsequent hypothyroidism (up to 80%), which requires lifetime treatment with thyroxine. The treatment cannot be used if there is any suspicion of pregnancy, and the patient must stay away from young children and pregnant women for around ten days after administration. Despite these drawbacks, radioactive iodine remains a popular form of treatment for any cause of hyperthyroidism.
Medical dictionary.
2011.
Look at other dictionaries:
radioactive iodine therapy — the administration of an estimated amount of the radioactive isotope iodine 131 as a drink in order to treat an overactive thyroid gland (see thyrotoxicosis). The iodine concentrates in the thyroid and thus delivers its beta radiation locally,… … The new mediacal dictionary
Radioactive iodine — An isotope of the chemical element iodine that is radioactive. Radioactive iodine is used in diagnostic tests as well as in radiotherapy of an hyperactive thyroid gland (hyperthyroidism), most often due to Graves disease. For hyperthyroidism,… … Medical dictionary
radioactive iodine — A radioactive form of iodine, often used for imaging tests or to treat an overactive thyroid, thyroid cancer, and certain other cancers. For imaging tests, the patient takes a small dose of radioactive iodine that collects in thyroid cells and… … English dictionary of cancer terms
Iodine — An essential element in the diet used by the thyroid gland to make thyroid hormones. The two most important thyroid hormones are thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3). Thyroxine (T4) has four iodine molecules attached to its structure, while… … Medical dictionary
iodine — n. an element required in small amounts for healthy growth and development. An adult body contains about 30 mg of iodine, mostly concentrated in the thyroid gland: this gland requires iodine to synthesize thyroid hormones. A deficiency of iodine… … The new mediacal dictionary
iodine-125 — Radioactive iodine isotope that decays by K capture (internal conversion) with a half life of 59.4 days; used as a label in immunoassay and in imaging; formerly used as a tracer in thyroid studies and as a l … Medical dictionary
Iodine-131 — Infobox isotope alternate names =Radioiodine symbol =I mass number =131 mass = num neutrons =78 num protons =53 abundance = halflife =8.0197 days error halflife = background =#c9F text color = decay product = decay symbol = decay mass = decay… … Wikipedia
Iodine, radioactive — An isotope of the chemical element iodine that is radioactive. Radioactive iodine is used in diagnostic tests as well as in radiotherapy of an hyperactive thyroid gland (hyperthyroidism), most often due to Graves disease. For hyperthyroidism,… … Medical dictionary
iodine-131 — A radioactive iodine isotope; beta and gamma emitter with a half life of 8.1 days; used as a tracer in thyroid studies, as therapy in hyperthyroidism and thyroid cancer, and as a … Medical dictionary
Iodine-125 — (125I) is a radioisotope of iodine which has uses in biological assays and in radiation therapy to treat prostate cancer and brain tumors. Its half life is around 60 days and it emits gamma rays with maximum energies of 35 keV, some of which are… … Wikipedia
