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Title: FETAL EFFECTS OF RADIOACTIVE IODINE THERAPY IN A PREGNANT WOMAN WITH THYROID CANCER

Journal Article · · American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology (U.S.)

Injurious effects of I/sup 131/ on a fetus when employed in the eradication of functional cervical thyroid cancer metastasis, follicular type are shown. A woman with cervical metastasis was treated with 77 mC I/sup 131/ when unknowingly three months pregnant. It is estimated that the total-body dose to the mother from this initial 77 mC I/sup 131/ dose approximated 29 rad. The estimate of the blood dose to the mother ranged in the vicinity of 1 rad/mC or 77 rad. The material blood dose is high inasmuch as the patient had minimal circulating thyroid hormone tagged with I/sup 131/ which would have kept contributing to the thyroid dose after the first few days. Dose calculations regarding the radiation received by the fetus or fetal thyroid were speculative; a minimal or an enormous dose might have been delivered. At premature birth the child had typical immature features but did not have the findings seen in cretinism. Although there was no initial laboratory or clinical evidence of cretinism at 2 1/2 months of age, the observed large tongue, umbilical hernia, retarded ossification centers, and depressed protein-bound iodine determinations established the diagnosis of hypothyroidism. The baby was placed, therefore, on oral thyroid at 83 days of age. Subsequent I/sup 131/ uptake, neck scintigram, and urinary excretion studies showed no functioning thyroid tissue present in the mother following a second 73-MC dose of I/sup 131/; thus the original purpose of the radioiodine therapy was accomplished. Ascertainment of the pregnancy status in all women prior to I/sup 131/ therapy is advised for prevention of injury to the fetal thyroid. (BBB)

Research Organization:
Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
NSA Number:
NSA-18-005015
OSTI ID:
4136964
Journal Information:
American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology (U.S.), Vol. Vol: 81; Other Information: Orig. Receipt Date: 31-DEC-64
Country of Publication:
Country unknown/Code not available
Language:
English