Can the thyroid be partially radiated to end hyperthyroidism?

Radioactive iodine: "Low-dose" RAI treatment has been tried. Goal was to treat the hyper and make you "normal". However, it usually does not work as intended, and you either stay hyper, or you get hypo anyway, perhaps 1-2 yr later (which is bad... it creeps up on you). Best to get a dose that wipes out the thyroid quickly; then you go on levothyroxine (which is cheap) and you're done. Talk to your Endocrinologist.

No.: The key issue here is that if there is enough active thyroid tissue remaining after radio-iodine ablation to produce 100% of one's thyroid hormone, there is enough tissue remaining to become hyperthyroid again. Even if there were an amount of tissue that would be enough, but not lead to recurrent hyperthyroidism, we don't have the ability to dose the radio-iodine precisely enough to get there.