Radiation Therapy is available in Molecular Diagnostics and Therapy under Nuclear Medicine and is a NABL & NABH- accredited diagnostic centre providing speciality services in Nuclear Medicine Radiation Therapy - Iodine-131 (I-131) for Thyroid Cancer. Radioiodine therapy uses radioactive iodine-131, which is taken up by thyroid tissue and selected iodine-avid thyroid cancer cells, where it delivers radiation to destroy or damage them. The maximum recommended therapeutic activity depends on the type and/or status of a patient's cancer, and their prior treatment history, and may be recommended at 150 mCi as advised by the specialist.

About Iodine-131 Therapy – 150 mCi

Certain people have papillary thyroid cancer, follicular thyroid cancer, and other forms of differentiated thyroid cancer for which the treatment is called iodine-131 therapy, a specialized form of Nuclear Medicine treatment. Iodine is normally taken up by the thyroid cells, where it is converted to thyroid hormones. This is what the radioactive iodine does: it localizes the radioiodine in the thyroid tissue and in radioiodine-accumulating cancerous tissue. Selected patients who need postoperative ablation or the treatment of residual, persistent, recurrent, or metastatic iodine-avid thyroid cancer may warrant an iodine-131 treatment activity of 150 mCi. Choice of what type of activity will be selected will be determined by the treating Nuclear Medicine specialist.

What is Iodine-131 Therapy?

The beta radiation can be used to irradiate targeted thyroid tissue, and the gamma radiation can be employed for radioiodine detection as a diagnostic imaging and monitoring tool. Treatment involves generally taking capsules or a liquid form of medication which is taken by mouth, under appropriate medical circumstances. I-131 therapy is indicated for some cases of recurrent (residual) thyroid disease, for patients having iodine-avid metastatic disease in the thyroid glands, or for patients who have had surgery on their thyroid.

Common Reasons for Iodine-131 Therapy – 150 mCi

• Differentiated thyroid cancer: This cancer utilizes iodine; some papillary and follicular cancers develop this way.
• Post-Surgical Ablation: To ablate (destroy) residual thyroid tissue following thyroid gland removal, when clinically indicated.
• To treat cancer that has spread from the thyroid to the body elsewhere.
• Persistent Disease: When the thyroid cancer can still be found after the first treatment.
• Recurrent Thyroid Cancer - Recurrent thyroid cancer that is suitable for iodine treatment.

Conditions Evaluated and Treated

Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma

Papillary thyroid carcinoma is the most common type of differentiated thyroid cancer. After surgery, if there is any iodide-containing thyroid tissue or mass remaining, radioiodine therapy (I-131) can be administered to kill all these areas of the thyroid.

Follicular Thyroid Carcinoma

Follicular thyroid cells are still able to take up iodine in some cells. Radioiodine therapy can be used in certain patients to treat the rest or spread of the iodine-avid disease.

Residual Thyroid Tissue

Following thyroid surgery, there can be some normal thyroid tissue left. Some of this tissue could be destroyed during radioiodine therapy, and it can help monitor the disease after the treatment.

Iodine-Avid Metastatic Disease

In a few patients, the differentiated thyroid cancer may recur in other sites, in the lungs, bones, or other lymphoid organs. If the deposits are still iodine-avid, perhaps it is possible to focus the I-131 on this area.

Persistent or Recurrent Differentiated Thyroid Cancer

Radioiodine is indicated when the patient has a disease that is iodine-sensitive (iodine-avid disease) and is thought to have significantly more to gain from additional treatment, especially in cases of persistent or recurrent disease.

Why Choose Molecular Diagnostics and Therapy?

Molecular Diagnostics and Therapy is an NABL & NABH Accredited Diagnostic Centre with Specialized Nuclear Medicine, Radiology and Pathology diagnostics and therapies. Our Nuclear Medicine services are based on those key elements of selecting patients, creating a treatment plan, radiation safety and clinical supervision of the professional. Treatment is planned in an organised way, prioritising patients' safety and effective follow-up.

Book Your Iodine-131 Therapy – 150 mCi.

Please contact us at Molecular Diagnostics and Therapy to arrange a consultation and treatment. Attach your histopathology report, any record of thyroid surgery, any previous radioiodine treatments, thyroid function tests, and previous medications from your doctor of thyroid disease (imaging of the thyroid will also be provided). Treatment will only commence upon specialist assessment and in cases of clinical suitability.