THE TREATMENT OF HYPERTHYROIDISM WITH RADIOACTIVE IODINE

Abstract

Roentgen treatment has been used for hyperthyroidism for many years. In 1923 Means and Holmes¹pointed out that in this form of treatment about one third of the patients are cured, another third improved and another third not affected. Since 1923 ordinary iodine by mouth has been used as a preoperative method of quieting the hyperactive thyroid in preparation for surgery. Under iodine alone occasionally the patient and the doctor have been agreeably surprised to find that the symptoms and signs of hyperthyroidism disappeared, and a permanent remission apparently was effected. That x-ray treatment and iodine treatment sometimes cure hyperthyroidism led to the hope that some day a more effective, nonsurgical agent would be found. Then the MacKenzies²and Astwood³discovered that several chemical compounds inhibit the function of the thyroid in hyperthyroidism as well as under other circumstances. Several of these agents have been investigated, and