In large quantities, radioactive iodine is very dangerous. During atomic accidents, he did many troubles, causing terrible mutations and cell death in the human body. But in minimal quantities it is successfully used in medicine for the treatment of certain pathologies.

What is radioactive iodine

This radionuclide is an odorless, colorless and tasteless synthesized substance. In nature, it does not exist, therefore it enters the natural environment from man-made sources created by man. The substance has an extremely high migratory capacity and easily penetrates with air, food and water, as well as through the skin. Quickly absorbed into the blood plasma, after about an hour, about 88% of the radionuclide is absorbed. Most get into the thyroid gland, the smaller - into the bone and muscle system. The substance is excreted mainly through the kidneys for 8 days.

The consequences of radiation are very serious: the thyroid gland is completely disrupted, malfunctions in the functioning of the endocrine system occur, and the likelihood of oncology increases sharply.

Such manifestations pose a huge danger to children, since their thyroid gland is still too small in comparison with the gland of an adult. The mass of the child’s endocrine organ is from 2 to 7 g, depending on age, while in adults this parameter varies between 19-20 g.In such patients, damage to the thyroid gland by radiation can often be latent in nature and affect only in the adolescent period against the background of hormonal changes or with any disease that acts as a provoking factor.


During the half-life of this substance, beta and gamma radiation are formed, which for several decades have been successfully used to treat certain thyroid diseases. This method of therapy was first tested in 1949.

How to use radioiodine therapy

Advantages of radioiodine therapy compared to surgery:

  • no need for anesthesia;
  • very short rehabilitation period;
  • absence of defects on the neck - scars or scars.

The dose of iodine is administered once, while the radiation does not harm the whole body, but accumulates mainly in the thyroid gland and acts only in this organ.

Indications for use

In medicine, irradiation with radioactive iodine is used to treat the following thyroid diseases:

  • hyperthyroidism;
  • thyrotoxicosis;
  • diffuse toxic goiter;
  • cancer.

In each case, a specific treatment technique is used.

Thyroid irradiation

Capsules i-131 are used once. The disadvantage of this method is that it is already impossible to restore the iron destroyed by radiation.

You need to prepare for the procedure in advance - one and a half to two weeks. You should follow a special diet, removing foods with a high iodine content from the diet, as it is necessary for the cells to feel the need for this substance. Therefore, it is important to exclude iodized and sea salt, seafood, milk, eggs, chocolate, soybeans from the menu.
5 days before the start of treatment, be sure to stop taking medications and hormones. Also, do not swim and relax on the sea coast, treat wounds with iodine.

Treatment of thyrotoxicosis

Taking the drug helps to suppress gland function and reduce excess hormone production. The goal of therapy is to restore the normal functioning of the body. In rare cases, it is necessary to repeat the course of treatment. Sometimes therapy does not help, and the patient has complications - hypothyroidism (lack of hormone production).

Thyroid removal

To remove an organ in cancer, a dose of 30 to 100 millicuries is used. Iodine acts locally: organ cells capture isotopes, and then they are destroyed by beta particles. Moreover, the more actively the substance is absorbed, the more cells of the organ die.

The consequences of radiation therapy

After such therapy, the following nuances must be taken into account:

  • The accumulation of the isotope occurs not only in the tissues of the thyroid gland, but also in other organs, although to a much lesser extent. Therefore, women in childbearing age for six months (at least) must be carefully protected. It is better to postpone the conception and birth of the baby for 18-20 months, since very often the consequence of therapy is a violation of the hormone production function necessary for the full development of the fetus.
  • The use of the isotope leads to an increased risk of cancer. This is especially true in cases where atypical cells have already been detected in the body. But the likelihood of a tumor remaining high without the use of radiation. And a relapse of the disease is also possible.
  • Quite often, there is a change in the functioning of the salivary and lacrimal glands, their ducts are narrowed as a result of radioactive exposure. Complications can affect the eye, so no one is safe from visual impairment.
  • Many complain of an accelerated set of extra pounds, the appearance of constant fatigue and the occurrence of muscle pain.
  • Among the short-term consequences, vomiting, nausea, changes in taste (the appearance of a metallic sensation in the mouth), exacerbation of chronic gastrointestinal pathologies should be distinguished. Such troubles can be easily removed by conventional therapeutic methods.

Opponents of radioactive iodine treatment often exaggerate the undesirable effects of the method. But in reality, everything is not so scary.For example, if hypothyroidism occurs after irradiation (and this is a small probability), then the patient will have to take hormones all his life, but even with untreated pathology, the situation does not change, since the patient in 100% of all cases needs constant use of hormonal drugs.

Fatigue and fatigue, as the most common effects of radiation, are characteristic of all malfunctions in the endocrine system. Therefore, do not attribute them exclusively to the harmful effects of iodine.

Rehabilitation after treatment

At the end of the procedure, the patient must, for several days, and preferably a week, avoid communication and close contacts with other people, since he poses a danger to them as a source of radiation. The clothes and personal belongings of the patient should be destroyed. Iodine-131, which is not absorbed by the gland, is excreted in the urine, feces and sweat for up to 7 days. However, a small amount of the substance will continue to be excreted in the next few weeks, so certain precautions must be taken.

Within a month, the person who has been exposed to radiation must adhere to the mandatory rules:

  • Drink plenty of clean water, which helps to quickly remove toxic decomposition products.
  • Take a shower daily, and can be 2 times. After visiting the toilet, flush the water several times.
  • Minimize communication with children, babies, and pregnant women.
  • Every day, change the sheet, pillowcase, duvet cover and casual clothes, immediately sending things to an individual wash.
  • Do not cook for family members.
  • Sleep alone.

After irradiation, weight gain is often observed. With this you need to fight a balanced diet and an active lifestyle.

With a favorable outcome, the quality of life will not change, since the restrictions will be short-term. However, after treatment, you will have to constantly take special medications, visit the endocrinologist every six months to monitor your health.

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