Pam - Re: Dr. Ain - Lithium Protocol

December 16, 2002

.... from Dr. Ain ...

" Only a portion of patients with thyroid cancer have rapid turnover

of I-131 in their tumor. It is my practice to do a 24 hour and a 48

hour whole body scan after the administration of the I-131 tracer

dose. This permits me to see if the tumor sites are rapidly

discharging their I-131 and would require lithium to enhance the

therapy. Sometimes, if previous treatments have been unsuccessful, I

both increase the administered dose of I-131 and give lithium

carbonate for the next I-131 treatment. "

For entire letter and others on the subject, see

-

NYC

" harrispb " wrote:

> Dr. Ain;

> How is poor retention determined? Since my TT in '98 I've had 150mci

> (hypo after surgery). Uptake in thyroid bed w/ Thyrogen scan in '99,

> went hypo took 30mci. Uptake in thyroid bed w/ Thyrogen scan, went

> hypo took 210 mci in '00. Clean Thyrogen scan in '01, although I'm

> skeptical because the person doing the scan had trouble doing the

> neck scan & had to redo it, they did the scan on a Fri. & had me come

> back the following Wed. (in the past I'd come back on Mon.).

> The nuclear med. dr. reviewed my Thyrogen scan with me last week and

> it showed uptake in the thyroid bed again.

> How common is it to have taken 3 high RAI doses & still have tissue

> in the thyroid bed? In the past my Tg test has shown antibodies, I

> did have it done again last week when hyper, I have a call in to the

> endo. to discuss this whole situation.....I just dread going hypo

> again.

>

> Pam

> Rochester, NY

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