Author:
Isah Ahmed Rufai,Abubakar Sofiullah,Yunusa Garba Haruna,Jawa Zabah Muhammad,Momodu Jaleelat I.
Abstract
Well differentiated thyroid cancers are slow-growing tumors with low disease-specific mortality rates for locoregional disease. Diagnosis is through histopathology of symptomatic or incidentally detected thyroid nodules. The management depends on the tumor stage and risk stratification. Monitoring, surgery, radioactive iodine, radiotherapy and targeted therapy play various role in management depending on stage and risk of recurrence. Radioactive iodine is a form of iodine which is unstable and emits both gamma (γ) rays and beta (β) rays. This enables its usage in both diagnosis and therapy for well differentiated thyroid cancers that retain the physiological process of concentrating iodine. This review article highlights, in summary, the role of radioiodine in the management of well differentiated thyroid cancers and also helps create awareness among physicians in Nigeria.