Lithium therapy: an unusual cause of elevated and diffuse radioactive iodine uptake

Lithium carbonate, a widely used treatment for bipolar disorders, is associated with goiter, hypothyroidism and thyrotoxicosis. However, the effect of lithium to increase radioactive iodine uptake has received little attention, thus, making Lithium a confounding factor in the interpretation of thyro...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of radiology case reports 2008-10, Vol.2 (4), p.1-4
Main Authors: Nyenwe, Ebenezer A, Fisher, Joseph N, Vanmiddlesworth, Lester
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Nuclear Medicine
Radioactive iodine, goiter, thyroid
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Summary:Lithium carbonate, a widely used treatment for bipolar disorders, is associated with goiter, hypothyroidism and thyrotoxicosis. However, the effect of lithium to increase radioactive iodine uptake has received little attention, thus, making Lithium a confounding factor in the interpretation of thyroid radionuclide studies. We herein report a case of misinterpreted high radioactive iodine uptake in a euthyroid, lithium-treated goitrous patient. We conclude that lithium therapy should be considered in the etiologic diagnoses of patients with goiter and homogenously elevated radioiodine uptake. It is pertinent to recognize this phenomenon in order to prevent unwarranted treatment with radioactive iodine or thionamides.
ISSN:1943-0922
1943-0922
DOI:10.3941/jrcr.v2i4.68