Pattern of urine iodine excretion with low iodine diet during preparation for radioactive iodine ablation in patients with thyroid cancer.

Background: The optimal period of low iodine diet during preparation for radioactive iodine (RAI) ablation in an area with iodine-rich diet was investigated.

Methods: Ninety-four patients with thyroid cancer who underwent low iodine diet and RAI were prospectively allocated into 2 groups-thyroxine withdrawal or using recombinant human thyroid stimulating hormone (rhTSH) for TSH stimulation. Their urinary iodine excretion (UIE) patterns were analyzed.