Increasing use of radioiodine in young people with thyrotoxicosis in Great Britain

Abstract

Objective: Radioiodine (RI) is an important therapeutic option in young patients with thyrotoxicosis. We wanted to determine whether RI is being used more frequently in this age group. Design: National survey of Great Britain (England, Wales and Scotland). Methods: Sixty-one medical physics departments were asked to provide the age and number of patients with thyrotoxicosis < 21 years treated with RI (1990-2008). Information on the total number of RI treatments for thyrotoxicosis was also collected. Results: Forty-three departments (70%), with representation from 21 of the 25 most populous areas of Great Britain, provided data on 69 258 treatments. The number of treatments recorded on patients <21 years during this period was 560 (0.9%). The frequency of treatments in young people as a percentage of the total increased from 0.2% in 1990 to 1.5% in 2008 (P<0.001). When the 18 centres submitting at least 17 years of data were analysed, a similar pattern was observed. The maximum number of young people treated was greatest in 2008 (62) with a fall in the youngest age at which RI was administered from 18 years (1990) to 11 years (2008). Conclusions: A rising proportion of patients with thyrotoxicosis receiving RI are in those <21 years. This is largely due to an increase in the number of young people treated with a reduction in the minimum age at RI administration. We suspect that European clinicians are becoming more comfortable with RI treatment in young people with thyrotoxicosis, although a changing incidence is a potential contributing factor. © 2012 European Society of Endocrinology.