Why Do We Use Iodine 131

Radioiodine therapy is a nuclear medicine treatment. Doctors use it to treat an overactive thyroid, a condition called hyperthyroidism. They also may use it to treat thyroid cancer.

Is Iodine 131 still used?

The isotope 131I is still occasionally used for purely diagnostic (i.e., imaging) work, due to its low expense compared to other iodine radioisotopes. Very small medical imaging doses of 131I have not shown any increase in thyroid cancer.

What careers use iodine 131?

Overactive thyroid (or hyperthyroidism) Iodine-131 therapy is usually given in a hospital outpatients department or private radiology practice that offers nuclear medicine services.