초록
53 patients with hyperthyroidism have been analyzed with special reference to therapeutic response to radioactive iodine ($^{131}I$) treatment. Mean effective half-life, 24 hour uptake rate and radiation dose of $^{131}I$ in hyperthyroid patients included in this study were respectively. 1. Mean effective half-life of $^{131}I\;was\;4.7{\pm}1.5$ days in the tracer dose and $5.0{\pm}1.5$ days in the therapeutic dose. 2. Mean 24 hour uptake rate of $^{131}I\;was\;72.7{\pm}11.1%$ in the tracer dose and $73.4{\pm}12.3%$ in the theapeutic dose. 3. Mean radiation dose of $^{131}I\;was\;5,319{\pm}2,648$ RAD as predicted and $5,692{\pm}2,843$ RAD as actual. A single dose of radioactive iodine treatment was satisfactory in 34 patients (radioiodine sensitive) and multiple doses of radioactive iodine treatments were required in 19 patients (radioiodine resistant). A radioiodine resistant group of patients with hyperthyroidism was distinctively characteristic in the following aspects. 1. Mean thyroid weight calculated in the resistant group ($63.9{\pm}14.0gm$) was significantly (p<0.01) greater than that of the sensitive group ($46.6{\pm}13.3gm$). 2. Mean 24 hour uptake rate of the tracer dose in the resistant group ($67.3{\pm}10.7%$) was significantly (p<0.01) lower than that of the sensitive group ($75.7{\pm}10.5%$). 3. Mean 24 hour uptake rate of the therapeutic dose in the resistant group ($68.5{\pm}13.7%$) was significantly (p<0.05) lower than that of the sensitive group ($76.1{\pm}10.9%$). 4. Mean predicted radiation dose, of $^{131}I$ in the resistant group ($3,684{\pm}1,745$ RAD) was significantly (p<0.01) lower than that of the sensitive group ($6,232{\pm}2,683$ RAD). 5. Mean actual radiation dose of $^{131}I$ in the resistant group ($4,100{\pm}1,691$ RAD) was significantly (p<0.01) lower than that of the sensitive group ($6,582{\pm}3,024$ RAD). 6. No significant difference was detected in terms of effective half-life of $^{131}I$ among the groups (p>0.05). 7. The average mean % difference of effective half-life, uptake rate and radiation dose measured following the tracer and therapeutic dose of $^{131}I$ were not statistically significant (p>0.05). Therefore effective half-life, uptake rate and radiation dose of the therapeutic dose of $^{131}I$ were readily predictable following the tracer dose of $^{131}I$. 8. It is concluded that the possibility of resistance to radioactive iodine treatment may be anticipated in patients with thyroid gland large in size and compromised $^{131}I$ uptake rate.