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Management of Hyperthyroidism in Senegal with Radioactive Iodine (Radioiodine Therapy): A Study of 142 Cases

Received: 21 September 2026     Accepted: 4 October 2026     Published: 23 October 2026
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Abstract

Introduction: Hyperthyroidism encompasses all the clinical and biological manifestation associated with overactivity of the thyroid gland. In Senegal, epidemiological data enabling an estimate of the overall prevalence of hyperthyroidism remain limited. However, studies conducted in our own centers point to a high prevalence of hyperthyroidism relative to other thyroid disorders, with a clear female predominance. In our country, it is generally offered as a second-line treatment, following the use of ATDs. Our main objective was to assess the place of this treatment in managing hyperthyroidism in adults in our setting. Patients and Methods: We conducted a retrospective, descriptive study from January 2016 to December 2022, involving 142 patients with hyperthyroidism treated with radioiodine therapy at the Department of Nuclear Medicine, Idrissa POUYE General Hospital, Dakar. Radioiodine therapy was administered according to established indications and after exclusion of contraindications and obtaining informed consent. Treatment was performed on an outpatient basis, with radiation protection instructions provided to all patients. An ablative dose was preferred to optimise therapeutic efficacy. Clinical and laboratory assessment was performed at 6 and 12 months. Results: The mean age was 42.7 years ± 13.05 years, with ages ranging from 16 to 72 years. There was a clear predominance of female, corresponding to a sex ratio of 0.23. The 31- 45 age group was the most represented, accounting for 43.5% of patients. Graves' disease was the most common etiology, found in 128 patients. Seven patients had TMG ; 2 had TA ; one had a pre-toxic left lobar nodule ; and 4 had hyperthyroidism of undetermined etiology. Radioiodine therapy was prescribed as second-line treatment in 98% of cases. The mean interval between discontinuation of ATDs and radioiodine administration was 12.5 days, ranging from 2 to 90 days. The average activity of iodine-131 administered using an empirical approach was 16.53 mCi. At 6 months, 23.07% of patients were euthyroid, 50.77% were hypothyroid, 13.84% remained hyperthyroid, and 12.30% showed clinico-biological discordance. Therapeutic efficacy at 6 months was 73.84%. Following a second dose in 9 patients and continued monitoring of the remainder, the overall success rate reached 85.38% at 12 months. Conclusion: Radioiodine therapy is an effective and well-tolerated treatment option for the management of hyperthyroidism. In our series, its efficacy was 85.38% at 12 months. These results confirm its value in the Senegalese context, particularly in Graves’ disease, and support the wider adoption of this treatment.

Published in European Journal of Biophysics (Volume 14, Issue 2)
DOI 10.11648/j.ejb.20261402.11
Page(s) 24-33
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2026. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Radioiodine Therapy, Management, Hyperthyroidism

References
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[13] Walter MA, Briel M, Christ-Crain M, Bonnema SJ, Connell J, Cooper DS, et al. Effects of antithyroid drugs on radioiodine treatment: systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. BMJ. 8 Mar 2007; 334(7592): 514.
[14] Cappelli C, Pirola I, De Martino E, Agosti B, Delbarba A, Castellano M, et al. The role of imaging in Graves' disease: a cost-effectiveness analysis. Eur J Radiol. Jan 2008; 65(1): 99-103.
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[25] Choukry S, Benouhoud J, Choukry K, Aschawa H, Guensi A. Outcomes of Graves' disease after radioiodine therapy (a study of 78 cases). Médecine Nucléaire. 1 May 2018; 42(3): 164.
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Cite This Article
  • APA Style

    Gora, T., Romuald, K. T., Thioro, B. A., Salif, D. M., Kalidou, G., et al. (2026). Management of Hyperthyroidism in Senegal with Radioactive Iodine (Radioiodine Therapy): A Study of 142 Cases. European Journal of Biophysics, 14(2), 24-33. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ejb.20261402.11

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    ACS Style

    Gora, T.; Romuald, K. T.; Thioro, B. A.; Salif, D. M.; Kalidou, G., et al. Management of Hyperthyroidism in Senegal with Radioactive Iodine (Radioiodine Therapy): A Study of 142 Cases. Eur. J. Biophys. 2026, 14(2), 24-33. doi: 10.11648/j.ejb.20261402.11

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    AMA Style

    Gora T, Romuald KT, Thioro BA, Salif DM, Kalidou G, et al. Management of Hyperthyroidism in Senegal with Radioactive Iodine (Radioiodine Therapy): A Study of 142 Cases. Eur J Biophys. 2026;14(2):24-33. doi: 10.11648/j.ejb.20261402.11

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ejb.20261402.11,
      author = {Thiaw Gora and Ki Thierry Romuald and Boye Adji Thioro and Djigo Mamoudou Salif and Gueye Kalidou and Diop Ousseynou and Bathily El Hadji Amadou Lamine and Ndong Boucar},
      title = {Management of Hyperthyroidism in Senegal with Radioactive Iodine (Radioiodine Therapy): A Study of 142 Cases},
      journal = {European Journal of Biophysics},
      volume = {14},
      number = {2},
      pages = {24-33},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ejb.20261402.11},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ejb.20261402.11},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ejb.20261402.11},
      abstract = {Introduction: Hyperthyroidism encompasses all the clinical and biological manifestation associated with overactivity of the thyroid gland. In Senegal, epidemiological data enabling an estimate of the overall prevalence of hyperthyroidism remain limited. However, studies conducted in our own centers point to a high prevalence of hyperthyroidism relative to other thyroid disorders, with a clear female predominance. In our country, it is generally offered as a second-line treatment, following the use of ATDs. Our main objective was to assess the place of this treatment in managing hyperthyroidism in adults in our setting. Patients and Methods: We conducted a retrospective, descriptive study from January 2016 to December 2022, involving 142 patients with hyperthyroidism treated with radioiodine therapy at the Department of Nuclear Medicine, Idrissa POUYE General Hospital, Dakar. Radioiodine therapy was administered according to established indications and after exclusion of contraindications and obtaining informed consent. Treatment was performed on an outpatient basis, with radiation protection instructions provided to all patients. An ablative dose was preferred to optimise therapeutic efficacy. Clinical and laboratory assessment was performed at 6 and 12 months. Results: The mean age was 42.7 years ± 13.05 years, with ages ranging from 16 to 72 years. There was a clear predominance of female, corresponding to a sex ratio of 0.23. The 31- 45 age group was the most represented, accounting for 43.5% of patients. Graves' disease was the most common etiology, found in 128 patients. Seven patients had TMG ; 2 had TA ; one had a pre-toxic left lobar nodule ; and 4 had hyperthyroidism of undetermined etiology. Radioiodine therapy was prescribed as second-line treatment in 98% of cases. The mean interval between discontinuation of ATDs and radioiodine administration was 12.5 days, ranging from 2 to 90 days. The average activity of iodine-131 administered using an empirical approach was 16.53 mCi. At 6 months, 23.07% of patients were euthyroid, 50.77% were hypothyroid, 13.84% remained hyperthyroid, and 12.30% showed clinico-biological discordance. Therapeutic efficacy at 6 months was 73.84%. Following a second dose in 9 patients and continued monitoring of the remainder, the overall success rate reached 85.38% at 12 months. Conclusion: Radioiodine therapy is an effective and well-tolerated treatment option for the management of hyperthyroidism. In our series, its efficacy was 85.38% at 12 months. These results confirm its value in the Senegalese context, particularly in Graves’ disease, and support the wider adoption of this treatment.},
     year = {2026}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Management of Hyperthyroidism in Senegal with Radioactive Iodine (Radioiodine Therapy): A Study of 142 Cases
    AU  - Thiaw Gora
    AU  - Ki Thierry Romuald
    AU  - Boye Adji Thioro
    AU  - Djigo Mamoudou Salif
    AU  - Gueye Kalidou
    AU  - Diop Ousseynou
    AU  - Bathily El Hadji Amadou Lamine
    AU  - Ndong Boucar
    Y1  - 2026/10/23
    PY  - 2026
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ejb.20261402.11
    DO  - 10.11648/j.ejb.20261402.11
    T2  - European Journal of Biophysics
    JF  - European Journal of Biophysics
    JO  - European Journal of Biophysics
    SP  - 24
    EP  - 33
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2329-1737
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ejb.20261402.11
    AB  - Introduction: Hyperthyroidism encompasses all the clinical and biological manifestation associated with overactivity of the thyroid gland. In Senegal, epidemiological data enabling an estimate of the overall prevalence of hyperthyroidism remain limited. However, studies conducted in our own centers point to a high prevalence of hyperthyroidism relative to other thyroid disorders, with a clear female predominance. In our country, it is generally offered as a second-line treatment, following the use of ATDs. Our main objective was to assess the place of this treatment in managing hyperthyroidism in adults in our setting. Patients and Methods: We conducted a retrospective, descriptive study from January 2016 to December 2022, involving 142 patients with hyperthyroidism treated with radioiodine therapy at the Department of Nuclear Medicine, Idrissa POUYE General Hospital, Dakar. Radioiodine therapy was administered according to established indications and after exclusion of contraindications and obtaining informed consent. Treatment was performed on an outpatient basis, with radiation protection instructions provided to all patients. An ablative dose was preferred to optimise therapeutic efficacy. Clinical and laboratory assessment was performed at 6 and 12 months. Results: The mean age was 42.7 years ± 13.05 years, with ages ranging from 16 to 72 years. There was a clear predominance of female, corresponding to a sex ratio of 0.23. The 31- 45 age group was the most represented, accounting for 43.5% of patients. Graves' disease was the most common etiology, found in 128 patients. Seven patients had TMG ; 2 had TA ; one had a pre-toxic left lobar nodule ; and 4 had hyperthyroidism of undetermined etiology. Radioiodine therapy was prescribed as second-line treatment in 98% of cases. The mean interval between discontinuation of ATDs and radioiodine administration was 12.5 days, ranging from 2 to 90 days. The average activity of iodine-131 administered using an empirical approach was 16.53 mCi. At 6 months, 23.07% of patients were euthyroid, 50.77% were hypothyroid, 13.84% remained hyperthyroid, and 12.30% showed clinico-biological discordance. Therapeutic efficacy at 6 months was 73.84%. Following a second dose in 9 patients and continued monitoring of the remainder, the overall success rate reached 85.38% at 12 months. Conclusion: Radioiodine therapy is an effective and well-tolerated treatment option for the management of hyperthyroidism. In our series, its efficacy was 85.38% at 12 months. These results confirm its value in the Senegalese context, particularly in Graves’ disease, and support the wider adoption of this treatment.
    VL  - 14
    IS  - 2
    ER  - 

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Author Information
  • Nuclear Medicine Department, Idrissa Pouye General Hospital, Dakar, Senegal;Faculty of Medicine, Pharmacy and Odontology, Cheikh Anta Diop University, Dakar, Senegal

  • Fundamental and Mixed Sciences Department, Institute of Health Sciences, Nazi Boni University, Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso

  • Nuclear Medicine Department, Idrissa Pouye General Hospital, Dakar, Senegal;Faculty of Medicine, Pharmacy and Odontology, Cheikh Anta Diop University, Dakar, Senegal

  • Nuclear Medicine Department, Idrissa Pouye General Hospital, Dakar, Senegal;Faculty of Medicine, Pharmacy and Odontology, Cheikh Anta Diop University, Dakar, Senegal

  • Nuclear Medicine Department, Idrissa Pouye General Hospital, Dakar, Senegal

  • Faculty of Medicine, Pharmacy and Odontology, Cheikh Anta Diop University, Dakar, Senegal;Nuclear Medicine Department, Dalal Jamm Hospital, Dakar, Senegal

  • Nuclear Medicine Department, Idrissa Pouye General Hospital, Dakar, Senegal;Faculty of Medicine, Pharmacy and Odontology, Cheikh Anta Diop University, Dakar, Senegal

  • Faculty of Medicine, Pharmacy and Odontology, Cheikh Anta Diop University, Dakar, Senegal;Nuclear Medicine Department, Dalal Jamm Hospital, Dakar, Senegal

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