Radioiodine therapy for hyperthyroidism.

Radioiodine (131I), a radioactive isotope of iodine, is widely used for the treatment of patients with thyroid disorders, particularly hyperthyroidism. Its use in hyperthyroidism has increased in the UK since we last reviewed this subject (e.g. from a total of 8,000 doses in 1982 to 10,000 in 2003/4). Here we reconsider the use of radioactive iodine in adults with hyperthyroidism, including how it compares with antithyroid drugs and surgery, the other therapies for hyperthyroidism.