OPS-Code 8-531.01:
Nuclear medicine therapy: Radioactive iodine therapy: Radioactive iodine I‑131 therapy up to 1.2 GBq: With administration of recombinant thyrotropin (rh‑TSH)
You were treated with radioactive iodine to treat a disease of the thyroid gland.
The thyroid is a small organ at the bottom of the neck. The thyroid gland needs iodine to produce important messenger substances (hormones) for the body. These messenger substances influence the heartbeat, digestion, and body temperature, among other things.
Radioactive iodine is normally ingested. It is absorbed by the mucous membrane lining the gastrointestinal tract and enters the bloodstream. The thyroid gland is the only organ in the body that absorbs large quantities of iodine from the blood. For this reason, the radioactive iodine accumulates in the thyroid gland. A very large dose of radioactive iodine needs to be delivered to the thyroid gland to treat certain diseases of the thyroid gland. You were given another drug to ensure that the thyroid gland can absorb more radioactive iodine. Radioactive iodine emits radiation. The radiation is intended to damage pathologically altered cells in the thyroid gland.
Additional indicator
If necessary, additional letters are appended to OPS codes to indicate which side of the body is affected.
- L: Left
- R: Right
- B: Both sides
Note
Your doctor will assist you with any health-related questions and explain the OPS code to you in a direct consultation if necessary.
Source
The explanation of the OPS code was provided by the non-profit organization “Was hab’ ich?” gemeinnützige GmbH on behalf of the Federal Ministry of Health (BMG).