Thyroid carcinoma after radioiodide therapy for hyperthyroidism. Analysis based on age, latency, and administered dose of I-131

Clin Nucl Med. 1983 May;8(5):216-9. doi: 10.1097/00003072-198305000-00007.

Abstract

Twenty-five reports in the medical literature of thyroid carcinomas which were detected after radioiodide therapy for hyperthyroidism were reviewed. These cases did not show a usual characteristic of radiation-associated tumors, namely a long latency period. That is, in 8/25 the latency period was under five years, and the mean latency was only 7.3 years. Further, there was no relationship between latency and age at treatment, or between latency and the dose of radioiodide employed. In 15/25 of the cases, there were known thyroid nodules. Three of the patients had thyroiditis (which itself has a correlation with thyroid carcinoma), and one individual had prior head and neck external radiation. There was no substantiating evidence that radioiodide treatment for hyperthyroidism was the cause of these thyroid carcinomas.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adenocarcinoma / etiology
  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Age Factors
  • Aged
  • Carcinoma / etiology*
  • Carcinoma, Papillary / etiology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Hyperthyroidism / radiotherapy*
  • Iodine Radioisotopes / administration & dosage
  • Iodine Radioisotopes / adverse effects*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasms, Radiation-Induced / etiology*
  • Thyroid Neoplasms / etiology*
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Iodine Radioisotopes