OAK RIDGE RADIOIODINE (I131) FOR HYPERTHYROIDISM—TENTH ANNIVERSARY:  GUEST EDITORIAL

The United States Atomic Energy Commission first released radioiodine (I¹³¹) for general use in July, 1946. This material was made in the atomic pile at Oak Ridge. Investigations with the isotope were then initiated to determine the clinical value of the isotope in the diagnosis and treatment of hyperthyroidism, in addition to the studies in many other fields. Prior to this, radioiodine had been tried in the treatment of hyperthyroidism. Hertz and Roberts¹ and later Chapman and Maloof² had available to them I¹³⁰, the 12-hour half-life isotope of stable iodine, made in the cyclotron. Hamilton and Lawrence³ employed I¹³¹, the 8-day half-life isotope. Except for the few patients treated by Soley with these latter investigators, I¹³¹ was not used further until the action of the Atomic Energy Commission; and at that time therapeutic interest in I¹³⁰ virtually ceased.

The highly successful initial