Place of radioactive iodine in treatment of thyrotoxicosis.

The effect of treatment of thyrotoxicosis with drugs, radioactive iodine, or surgery in different age groups is reviewed. In Graves' disease and toxic multinodular goitre the remission rate is about 40-50% after antithyroid drugs, but these drugs have little effect in toxic adenoma. Hypothyroidism developed in 35-49% of patients who had had thyroidectomy, and the risks of operation are high. The risk of malignant disease and genetic abnormalities was not significantly greater after treatment with radioactive iodine in any age group. In general, treatment with radioactive iodine should have priority over thyroidectomy at all ages.