The term “nuclear medicine” is still unfamiliar to many people. However, as the incidence of thyroid cancer increases year by year, the term “iodine 131 therapy” is getting more and more attention. Did you know that this treatment is a part of nuclear medicine? Iodine 131 can reduce the recurrence rate The latest data shows that thyroid cancer ranks second in the overall incidence of tumors in Hangzhou, and is the first in the female population. From the medical checkup centers of Hangzhou hospitals, it was found that ultrasound examination revealed that thyroid lesions including thyroid nodules, adenomas, calcifications and enlargement accounted for 20% to 30% of the total number of people, with no obvious gender distinction for the time being. And among these, 5-15% of thyroid nodules will be thyroid cancer. ”The recurrence rate of thyroid cancer treated by surgical excision alone is 32%, the recurrence rate of combined surgery + thyroxine is 11%, and the recurrence rate after combined surgery + iodine 131 + thyroxine is only 2.7%.” Dr. Chunlei Zhao explained that iodine 131 treatment can remove occult metastatic lesions and appropriately reduce the recurrence and metastasis rate of thyroid cancer, which can help to prolong the survival of patients. Is iodine 131 treatment necessarily the savior of thyroid cancer? Not all thyroid cancers are useful,” said Chunlei Zhao. Thyroid cancer can be divided into differentiated carcinoma, undifferentiated carcinoma and medullary carcinoma. Among them, differentiated carcinoma accounts for about 90%, and this type of cancer tissue has the ability to absorb iodine 131 and is suitable for treatment with iodine 131, while the latter two do not have the ability to absorb and are not suitable for treatment with iodine 131.” At this stage, there will be 20 beds first. It is understood that the nuclear medicine department of the city cancer hospital will be officially opened at the end of this month. Up to now, more than 20 patients have booked iodine 131 treatment. ”Our discipline involves a wide range of treatment. Like treating thyroid cancer and hyperthyroidism with nuclide, bone pain caused by bone metastasis of malignant tumors, and solid tumors with radioactive particle implantation.” Dr. Zhao Chunlei introduced that the city cancer hospital will open 10 nuclear medicine beds and admit patients in batches according to the situation, the first batch will admit 5 patients with differentiated thyroid cancer. This department of the city cancer hospital is built in a man-made cave, and the facilities are the latest equipment. There are lead screens between the rooms to prevent patients from radiating with each other. Dr. Zhao Chunlei reminded that the general hospital stay for iodine 131 treatment is about 5 days, and after being discharged home, one must pay attention to low iodine diet and stay in a separate room to continue isolation for 1 month, and excrement should be handled separately. It is even more important to continue taking thyroxine.