Thyroid disease is a common health condition, affecting approximately 12% of Americans. Most thyroid conditions are due to dysfunction, in which the thyroid may overproduce (hyperthyroidism) or under produce (hypothyroidism) hormones. Additionally, though much less common, thyroid dysfunction may be caused by autoimmune disease (Graves Disease and Hashimoto's Disease) or by cancer. There are many treatments for thyroid disease, depending on the type of dysfunction associated. This research will focus on two specific treatment procedures: radioactive iodine and surgical removal of the thyroid gland, both of which are permanent options to treat thyroid conditionscaused bythe gland overproducinghormones. A meta-analysis will be performed to compare the efficacy of each procedure, adverse effects, and associated long-term health outcomes. It is hypothesized that treatment with radioactive iodine leads to better long-term health outcomes compared to surgical removal of the thyroid. Considering the high prevalence of thyroid dysfunction, patients and clinicians can use this information to determine the best treatment for long-term benefits.
