Treatment of thyrotoxicosis in young people
| Advantages | Disadvantages | |
|---|---|---|
| Medical | Relatively simple | Potentially life threatening side effects |
| Relatively cheap | Most appropriate regimen unknown | |
| Non-invasive | Compliance issues | |
| Low remission rates | ||
| Surgical (total | Definitive | Surgical expertise required |
| thyroidectomy) | Removes an unsightly goitre | Anaesthetic risk |
| Surgical complications | ||
| Specific complications: hypoparathyroidism laryngeal nerve palsy visible scar (+/− keloid) | ||
| Risk of thyroid “crisis” | ||
| Thyroxine replacement required | ||
| Radioiodine | Usually definitive | Initial inconvenience after RI administration |
| Cheap | Short term side effects, e.g. neck discomfort, transient hypoparathyroidism | |
| Non-invasive | May precipitate thyroid crisis | |
| Second dose may be needed | ||
| Ophthalmopathy may deteriorate | ||
| Thyroxine replacement required | ||
| Relative lack of long term safety data in the young |