RADIOIODINE UPTAKE CURVE IN HUMANS

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Abstract
The rate of uptake of radioactive iodine by the thyroid gland was measured in a series of 26 children. Twelve of these children were normal with regard to being free of any disease that would markedly alter body metabolism. All these subjects showed similar and characteristic curves of uptake of the isotope. Fourteen abnormal children were studied similarly. The curves of 12 of these clearly deviated from those of the normal group. All patients in this series with established thyroid dysfunction showed similar and characteristic curves and could be easily divided into three categories: hypofunction, hyperfunction and colloid goiter. Three patients (one mongolian idiot, one dwarf and one hypothalamic syndrome) showed abnormal curves which varied from that typical of definite hypothyroidism but were similar. One patient with gargoylism had a curve typical of hypothyroidism. It can be postulated that these patients may have primary or secondary (to the pituitary or neurogenic mechanisms) hypothyroidism. One patient each with nephrosis and rheumatic fever displayed normal curves. From the results reported in this communication, plus others that have been reported in the literature, it would appear that the procedure is a valuable one in estimating the relative degree of thyroid function. It is a tool of diagnostic importance and has a greater specificity than most of the other methods used in measuring thyroid function in infants and children. It should be recognized, however, that others have demonstrated a certain degree of overlapping in the radioiodine uptake curves obtained on normal and abnormal subjects.

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