“Can nuclear medicine treat hyperthyroidism?”

Yes, depending on the severity of disease. When hyperthyroidism becomes difficult or refractory to oral medication, total thyroid ablation with radiolabeled iodine is performed. Your thyroid uses iodine to make thyroid hormone. I-131sodium iodine, the therapeutic agent used to treat hyperthyroidism, exploits this function of iodine as it is an isotope of iodine that is radioactive. The radioactivity once in the thyroid slowly destroys the thyroid gland, rendering one thyroid or without thyroid tissue. Since thyroid hormone is needed for various body
homeostasis functions, following destruction (or radioablation), an endocrinologist will prescribe thyroid hormone that the patient has to take for the rest of their life. The first few months, doses may change significantly as the right level of thyroid hormone needed varies with each person.

Hope this helps!

There are three forms of treatment for hyperthyroidism. Medication, surgery and radio-active iodine. My preference is nuclear radiation with the iodine. It is simple and relatively free of complications. Surgery has dangers such as cutting the recurrant laryngeal nerve effecting speech and removing the parathyroid glands with then problems of calcium control. Medication requires long term taking of pills with no stopping date known. Meds can also cause liver damage and reduce the white blood cells making you more susceptible to infections especially thrush of the mouth. RAI is virtually free of problems & is simple to do. With all the treatments, there is a greater than 90% chance you will need to take thyroid meds for the rest of your life but thats easy-1 tiny pill/d. Most important if you have this problem get it fixed as it is damaging to the heart.