RAI to kill thyroid

diles · Newbie Joined: 20 Jun 2005 Posts: 14

Hi, my mother had thyroidectomy two months ago, and now RAI should be performed to see if the surgery was successful. How is this test performed and can RAI be used as treatment to kill thyroid?

mckane · Newbie Joined: 23 Jun 2005 Posts: 12

Hi, after thyroidectomy doctors need to check if the cancer has redeveloped and follow-up tests are used to examine thyroid activity in the body. Most commonly used follow-up tests are thyroglobulin (Tg) tests and whole body scans, which uses RAI.Radioiodine (RAI) is used in a small amount, so it is fairly safe. A patient takes a drink or a capsule containing the RAI, and after two days they are scanned by a large x-ray. RAI binds any thyroid cells anywhere in the body, and they will show up as spots on the x-ray film. Any remaining thyroid cells are killed by RAI. This process requires a greater amount of radiation than a routine whole body scan.

RAI to kill thyroid

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