The Science
How Dr. Saul Hertz pioneered the treatment of thyroid disease, and paved the path forward for theranostics.
Radioactive iodine paved the path forward for treating disease with nuclear medicine.
Hertz work revolutionized and indeed laid both theoretical and clinical foundation for treatment of endocrine diseases and cancer with nuclear medicine.
“First tracer use of radioiodine in studying thyroid physiology (1937); first adiminstration of the “atomic cocktail” (iodine-131) for thyroid therapy (1941)”
A PROLIFIC BASIC SCIENCES AND ALSO A SEASONED CLINICAL INVESTIGATOR
Between 1932 and 1950, Hertz published over forty articles dedicated to the role of radioactive in thyroid diseases, including thyroid malignancies.
Notably, Hertz was able to translate laboratory findings to clinical trial data demonstrating safety and efficacy of radioactive iodine for the treatment of hyperthyroidism, Grave’s disease, and thyroid cancer.
Select articles have been highlighted below demonstrating the expertise and forward-thinking problem solving of Hertz in optimising radioactive iodine treatment for patients.
ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Between 1938 and 1942 – a period marked by conflict – also saw Hertz’s multi-part original research in radioactive iodine and thyroid disease published in numerous high impact peer-reviewed journals.
Saul Hertz and the medical uses of radioactive iodine
Prof. Michael Hofman from the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre presents a national historic chemical landmark lecture with a tribute to Dr. Saul Hertz. This lecture provides context to the importance of Dr. Hertz’s discovery in the contemporary field of theranostics and oncology today.
History of radioactive iodine
Dr. Jeffrey Garber, Dr. Lewis Braverman and Ms. Barbara Hertz – provide insight into the important discovery of radioactive iodine and context of the discovery. The lecture was hosted at Vanderbilt Hall, where Dr. Hertz first asked the important question if iodine can be made radioactive to study physiology and treat pathology.
NARRATIVE REVIEW
Use of radioactive iodine in the diagnosis, study and treatment of diseases of the thyroid.
In this comprehensive review by Dr. Saul Hertz himself, much of the modern research into radioactive iodine was explored. Despite being in its early days, much discussion had revolved around how to administer radioactive iodine. Additionally, multidisciplinary care had already been evolving at the time with close collaborations with surgeons for adjuvant administration of radioactive iodine. However, despite the promise of RAI, limitations were present and needed to be overcome. What is astounding is Dr. Saul Hertz visionary understanding of theranostics and the need to visualise what is being treated.
“Somewhere in the basement of the MGH Bulfinch Building, Dr. Hertz carried out experiments with results that would forever change medicine.”
“...no patient should be treated without a preliminary tracer study utilising 100 micro curies of iodine 131 for this purpose.”
“...administration of external irradiation should be considered an outmoded form of treatment wherever radioactive iodine is available.”