Failure of radioiodine treatment in Graves' disease intentionally caused by a patient: suspected Munchausen syndrome.

Abstract

We experienced a case with Graves' disease in which radioiodine treatment failed probably because of intentional spitting out of capsules of radioactive iodide. Chemical analysis of the substances collected from the trash in the treatment room demonstrated that its profile was the same as that of the capsules for radioiodine administration. Measurement of the iodine concentrations in a blood sample obtained at 24 h after the administration of radioiodine indicated that the patient showed iodine excess. These findings suggest that this may be a case of Munchausen syndrome.

• Authors: Seigo Kinuya, Takatoshi Michigishi, Kenichi Nakajima, Keiko Kinuya, Akira Seto, Ichiei Kuji, Kunihiko Yokoyama, Norihisa Tonami
• Journal: Annals of nuclear medicine (Ann Nucl Med) Vol. 18 Issue 7 Pg. 631-2 (Oct 2004) ISSN: 0914-7187 [Print] Japan
• PMID: 15586639 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Iodine Radioisotopes
• Radiopharmaceuticals

Topics

• Adult
• Female
• Graves Disease (blood, complications, diagnosis, radiotherapy)
• Humans
• Iodine Radioisotopes (blood, therapeutic use)
• Munchausen Syndrome (complications, diagnosis)
• Radiopharmaceuticals (blood, therapeutic use)
• Treatment Failure
• Treatment Refusal