[Development of Basedow disease after radioiodine therapy for nodular goiter].

It has been observed in the past few years, that radioiodine therapy triggers autoimmune thyrotoxicosis. The possible mechanism of this phenomenon is that protein fragments enter the circulation after thyroid cell damage induced by radiation. TSH-receptor autoantibodies are produced in genetically susceptible patients after radiotherapy. In treating nodular goiter--a non-immune thyroid disease--wi…