Sinusitis, an under-reported adverse effect in children treated with radioactive iodine therapy and review of the current literature.
Background Radioactive iodine (RAI) therapy is prevalent in the treatment of Graves' disease. Adverse effects in pediatrics are not well-described. Case presentation A 13-year-old female underwent RAI therapy for Graves' disease. Eight days later, she developed facial pain and forehead burning. She was diagnosed with sinusitis and started on pseudoephedrine with resolution in 24 h. Conclusions She endured prolonged discomfort due to an under-recognized adverse effect of RAI. Studies identify the nose as a site of RAI accumulation and smaller nasal passages may predispose children to sinusitis. We report the first pediatric case of sinusitis following RAI. With the increasing use of RAI to treat Graves' disease, clinicians must recognize this adverse effect.