Three-Year Follow-up of Radioiodine Therapy for Goitre
Three-Year Follow-up of Radioiodine Therapy for Goitre
Background: Preadministration of recombinant human thyrotropin (rhTSH) increases the amount
 and homogeneity of thyroid radioiodine uptake, and when used as an adjuvant can augment the
 efficiency of 131I therapy by allowing multinodular goitre (MNG) volume reduction.

 Objective: The investigators aimed to assess low-dose rhTSH-aided fixed-activity radioiodine
 therapy outcome in MNG patients.

 Design: This was a long-term (36 months) observational study. Methods: The investigators
 measured 24 h thyroid radioiodine uptake (RAIU) of 1.4 µCi (0.5 MBq) of 131-iodine at
 baseline and 24 h after intramuscular injection of 0.1 mg rhTSH in 42 patients (aged 42-80
 years) who subsequently received 30 mCi 131-iodine 24 h after an identical rhTSH injection.
 Urinary iodine was measured at baseline and at 3 months after following a low iodine diet.
 TSH, free thyroxine (FT4), T3 (T3) and thyroglobulin (TG) were measured at baseline, 24 h, 48
 h, 72 h, 168 h, one month, 3, 6, 9, 12, 18, 24 and 36 months after therapy. Thyroid volume
 was assessed by computer tomography at baseline and every 6 months thereafter.
Inclusion Criteria:

 -  Patients with multinodular goitre

 Exclusion Criteria:

 -  Aversion to any form of treatment

 -  Previous radioiodine therapy

 -  Being unable to complete a prolonged follow-up; and

 -  Having serious cardiovascular disorders.