Radiotherapy Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Radiotherapy, including details on cancer treatment, side effects.

Hyperparathyroidism after radioactive iodine therapy.

Colaço SM, Si M, Reiff E, Clark OH

Department of Surgery, University of California San Francisco and UCSF/Mt Zion Medical Center, 1600 Divisadero Street, #C347, San Francisco, CA 94143-1674, USA.

BACKGROUND: Radioactive iodine (RAI) treatment has been suggested to cause primary hyperparathyroidism (HPT). We describe a series of patients with HPT and a history of RAI exposure. METHODS: Patient demographic and clinical information was evaluated, including the latency time to the development of HPT after RAI exposure. RESULTS: We treated 11 patients with HPT and a history of RAI exposure. RAI treatment was administered for benign thyroid disease in 9 (82%) cases. Thirty-six cases of HPT after RAI exposure in the English literature were compiled for further analysis. In this collective experience, the average latency time to the development of HPT after RAI treatment was 13.5 +/- 9.1 years and was found to be inversely correlated with age at RAI exposure. CONCLUSIONS: Patients who undergo RAI treatment are at risk of developing HPT, and this risk appears to increase in elderly patients. Serum calcium surveillance is recommended for patients who have undergone RAI treatment.

Published 13 August 2007 in Am J Surg, 194(3): 323-7.
Full-text of this article is available online (may require subscription).

© 2004-2008 Radiotherapy Research Today. All Rights Reserved.