Which iodine isotope is used for the treatment of carcinoma of thyroid?: (A) Iodine 131, (B) Iodine 123, (C) Iodine 213, (D) All of the above
Answer is A. The initial treatment for cancer of the thyroid is surgical. A consensus approach might be to perform a total thyroidectomy if the primary tumor is larger than 1 cm in diameter or if there is extra-thyroidal involvement or distant metastases. Clinically evident lymphadenopathy should be removed with a neck dissection. If the primary tumor is less than 1 cm in diameter, a unilateral lobectomy might be considered.
About 4-6 weeks after surgical thyroid removal, patients must have radioiodine to detect and destroy any metastasis and any residual tissue in the thyroid.