How are different doses chosen?

Different doses of radioactive iodine may be chosen based on the stage of a patient\'s thyroid cancer. In general, larger doses are used to treat more advanced or more aggressive cases. Doses of 131-Iodine are measured in units called millicuries (abbreviated mCi). Small doses of 5-10 mCi are used to perform most radioactive iodine scans. Larger doses of 30-200 mCi are used to treat thyroid cancer. Doses in the lower range are used to treat thyroid cancer confined to the thyroid gland that has not spread beyond the lymph nodes in the neck. Doses in the higher range are used to treat thyroid cancer that has spread to other parts of the body. Children with thyroid cancer are usually treated with doses that are lower than those used in adults. In general, doses in children are limited to an upper range of about 50 mCi, even in cases where thyroid cancer has spread to other parts of the body.

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