[Thyroiditis induced by radioactive iodine (I-131). Report of a case and review of the literature].

A 23 years old female with Graves' disease initiated a symptomatic treatment with propanolol and then received radioactive iodine (I-311) 370 MBq (10 mCi) as definitive treatment. Three weeks later she was hospitalized because she presented acute radiation thyroiditis. She was discharged after 48 h of treatment, but clinical symptoms and signs persisted for over 30 days, but in less degree. One month later she developed hypothyroidism. There are three therapeutics options for the treatment of Grave's disease (antithyroid drugs, radioiodine and surgery). There are some hospitals in which the use of radioactive iodine is preferred as the first option, without a pretreatment with antithyroid drugs, but this could lead to acute thyroiditis or thyroid storm.