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European Endos Say Drugs, Surgery, Not RAI for Hyperthyroidism With Eye Involvement
April 2003 -- In a survey of members of the European endocrinologists who belong to the European Thyroid Association (ETA), surveying 84 of the top endocrinologists from 19 European countries, the recommended treatment of hyperthyroidism in people with thyroid eye disease was antithyroid drugs (84%), followed by thyroidectomy (10%), and radioiodine (only 6%.)
The selected choice of treatment for recurring hyperthyroidism, after a first course of antithyroid drugs, was surgery (43%), followed by a second course of antithyroid drugs (32%), and finally, RAI (only 25% of respondents).
Source: Weetman, et. al., "Current management of thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy in Europe. Results of an international survey," Clin Endocrinol 1998 Jul;49(1):21-8
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