Long‐term effect of radioactive iodine on thyroid function and size in patients with solitary autonomously functioning toxic thyroid nodules

Abstract

A cure-rate of 75% within 3 months is seen when treating autonomous solitary toxic thyroid nodules with 131I. The thyroid volume is reduced by 35% within 3 months and 45% after 2 years. Side-effects are few and consist of hypothyroidism in less than 10% with a median follow-up of 5 years. This treatment should be regarded as the standard treatment for this condition until prospective comparisons with surgery and ethanol injection therapy have been performed.