What is the downside of undergoing Radioactive Iodine Therapy for treatment of Grave's Disease?

Answer 1

Radioactive iodine therapy was invented as the original treatment for problems with the Thyroid The radioactive iodine is carried into the thyroid and the radiation kills the tissues of the thyroid. It is a very safe treatment that has a very long history of use.

The treatment relies on the tissues of the thyroid absorbing the iodine so that the radiation can kill the tissues. Unfortunately a diseased thyroid may have parts of itself that are not functioning properly and will not absorb the radioactive iodine. This will cause parts of the thyroid to die as intended and parts of it may continue to partially function and produce hormone.

When the thyroid continues to partially produce hormone it becomes very difficult if not impossible to effectively regulate hormone levels by taking a pill which can lead to years of suffering and issues involving either hormone levels that are too high or too low.

Surgical removal of the Thyroid gland is a much more effective treatment that ensures that there is no tissue remaining that can cause lingering issues with thyroid levels. The surgery leaves a small scar across the front of the neck just above the collar bones. Post surgical depression (which is common with most surgeries) coupled with falling thyroid levels makes recovery from thyroid surgery difficult emotionally. But after about 6 months you should recover emotionally.

The benefit to surgical removal is that it is much easier to regulate the level of thyroid hormone. Since Thyroid hormone effects many things in the human body including emotional state i believe that surgical removal is more effective than treatment with radioactive iodine.