Percutaneous Intranodular Injection Therapy of Radioactive Iodine-131 in Treatment of Benign Thyroid Nodules: A Preliminary Study

방사선 요오드-131의 국소주입에 의한 양성 갑상선 결절의 치료

Background and Objective: Percutaneous ethanol injection therapy has been used in the treatment of the benign thyroid diseases. Although the reported side-effects of the therapy was mild and transient, some side-effects including local or radiating pain are troublesome to the patients. Radioactive iodine-131($Ra-^{131}I$) also has been effectively and safely used for management of the benign thyroid diseases. So we developed the percutaneous intranodular injection therapy of $Ra-^{131}I$ as an alternative of percutaneous ethanol injection therapy. Materials and Methods: From December 1998 to October 1999, we treated 29 outpatients (25 women and 4 men, mean age: $47{\pm}12$ years). Inclusion criteria were follows; age >30 years, cytologically benign, with normal thyroid function, cold nodule on thyroid scintigram, solid or mixed natured nodules in sonographical evaluation. Nodular volume was estimated by sonography according to the ellipsoid formula. $Ra-^{131}I$(0.1mCi/ml) was administered in a single dose injection. Follow-up studies every 3 months consisted of full history, thyroid function test, and sonography. We determined the therapeutic response is effective if the volume reduction of the nodule occurred above 30%. Results: After at least 3 months follow-up, 11 patients showed effective response, 12 patients showed minimal or unchanged response and 6 patients showed progression. Although side-effects such as injection pain, febrile reaction, and hormonal changes were absent, an infectious complication in injection site was developed from 1 case. Conclusion: Although we need a more prolonged follow-up to evaluate the delayed sequelae, we can suggest that percutaneous intranodular injection therapy of $Ra-^{131}I$ may be an attractive non-surgical treatment in selected cases of benign thyroid nodules.