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Radioactive iodine (RAI) therapy can treat hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid) and certain types of thyroid cancer. The term “radioactive” may sound frightening, but it’s a safe, generally well-tolerated treatment. It targets thyroid cells specifically to permanently destroy them.
What is radioactive iodine therapy? Radioactive iodine therapy is a radiopharmaceutical. It involves the use of radioactive isotopes — in this case, Iodine-131 (I-131) — to diagnose or treat disease. How is radioactive iodine therapy used?
In general, RAI is a safe and effective treatment for thyroid problems. If you get RAI for your hyperthyroidism, you may become hypothyroid. This is treated with thyroid hormone (see Hypothyroidism brochure). Some studies suggest a slightly higher risk of thyroid cancer after RAI treatment for hyperthyroidism.
What is radioactive iodine therapy? During this treatment, radioactive iodine is put into your body by taking a pill, drinking a liquid, or getting a shot in your vein. When RAI is put into the body, it collects mainly in thyroid cells.
Treatment with radioactive iodine lowers your risk of your thyroid cancer coming back. It’s also used to treat thyroid cancer that spreads to other parts of your body. Radioactive iodine often comes in pill form. It can also come in liquid form if you have trouble swallowing pills.
Radioactive Iodine I-131 (also called Radioiodine I-131) therapy is a nuclear medicine treatment. Doctors use it to treat an overactive thyroid, a condition called hyperthyroidism.
Radioactive iodine is an effective type of treatment for cancer of the thyroid gland. This is because your body absorbs the radioactive iodine from the drink or capsule. The thyroid cancer cells pick up the iodine, even if they have spread to other parts of the body.
Radioactive iodine (RAI) treatment involves swallowing a capsule or liquid form of radioactive iodine that thyroid cells take up (absorb), destroying them. It’s effective because healthy cells in the body don’t usually absorb the radioactive iodine.
What is Radioactive Iodine (RAI) Therapy for Thyroid Cancer? Radioactive iodine, or radioiodine, is a type of iodine that emits radiation. We use different isotopes (types of radioactive iodine named for their atomic weight) to diagnose and treat thyroid cancer. These isotopes include: I-123.
Radioactive iodine therapy may be used in treating thyroid cancer. Learn more about RAI or radioiodine, its side effects and the importance of a low iodine diet.