Radioiodine therapy of thyroid disease.

Ten "ideal" steps used at the University of Michigan to treat well-differentiated thyroid cancer are presented. Using this in 103 patients with well-differentiated thyroid carcinoma and metastases outside their neck, those that were freed of their disease after 131I therapy survived three times as long as those not cured of their disease. Patients successfully cured of their metastases showed better conformity to the "ideal" steps than the patients with residual metastases. Each of the most commonly asked questions about 131I treatment of thyroid carcinoma following surgical treatment are discussed.