Table 1.
Summary of Evidence for Patient Important Outcomes
| Cure rate | Costa | Adverse effects | Need for lifelong thyroid replacement | Speed of recovery | Frequency of follow-up (first year) | Mild eye disease | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ATD | 50–60% | $300–400 | One in four patients will drop treatment due to side effects (nausea, skin rash, pruritus) | 0% | 4–8 weeks | 4–8 per year | Unchanged |
| RAI | 90% | $4000–5000 | New eye disease (15%) Minor risk for malignancy Impaired male fertility (4–6 months) Avoid pregnancy (6 months) |
90% | 12–18 weeks | 2–3 per year | May worsen |
| Surgery | 95% | $30,000–40,000 | Permanent scar (1–2 inches) Temporal hoarseness (4%) Permanent hoarseness (<1%) Need for calcium pills for lifetime (1%) |
100% | Immediately | 1–2 year | Unchanged |
a
Cost does not include visits or tests.
ATD, antithyroid drugs; RAI, radioactive iodine therapy.