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| December 2, 2009 |
Notice from the American Thyroid Association (ATA)
I-131 shortage
The global radioisotope shortage is now impacting the supply of I-131. In different regions of the USA, vendors who have supplied this product have informed local hospitals that no further shipments of I-131 are expected until mid December 2009. This shortage is driven by production problems experienced by nuclear reactors that supply the raw materials for the preparation of radiopharmaceutical I-131 solution.
This shortage has led to prioritizing the use of existing I-131 products for those patients with thyroid cancer who have urgency of treatment. It has also brought concerns about the possibility of rescheduling patients who are in the process of preparing for radioactive iodine scans or treatment.
The ATA would like to bring these new issues of I-131 shortage to your awareness. It is advisable for physicians to determine the status of I-131 supply locally, with the nuclear medicine department in their hospital or the vendors who provide this product for office-based practices. The ATA will continue to provide updates related to I-131 shortage as they become available, in efforts to minimize the impact of such shortages on patient care.
