Background: Patients with differentiated CA thyroid are treated with surgery followed by radioactive iodine-131 therapy. Pregnancy and lactation are absolute contraindications to radio-iodine therapy. Lactation after radio-iodine therapy results in thyroid dysfunction of infant which may lead to hypothyroidism.
Case presentation: We describe a case of 24-year old male who developed permanent hypothyroidism at the age of 2 years after breast feeding from mother treated with radio-iodine for CA thyroid in spite of proper advice.
Conclusion: Lactation should be stopped in patients treated with radioactive I-131 therapy through maternal education and counselling. It is necessary to avoid radio-iodine induced hazards to infants and close follow up is needed if lactation is not ceased after radio-iodine therapy.
Key words: Neonatal hypothyroidism, lactation, radio-iodine therapy, CA thyroid, counseling, case report
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