How common is hypothyroidism after external radiotherapy to neck in head and neck cancer patients?
Purpose: To identify the occurrence of clinical and subclinical hypothyroidism among head and neck cancer patients receiving radiation to the neck and to justify routine performing of thyroid function tests during follow-up. Materials and Methods: This is a prospective nonrandomized study of 45 pati...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Thieme Medical and Scientific Publishers Pvt. Ltd.
2011-01-01
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| Series: | Indian Journal of Medical and Paediatric Oncology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.ijmpo.org/article.asp?issn=0971-5851;year=2011;volume=32;issue=3;spage=143;epage=148;aulast=Srikantia |
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| Summary: | Purpose: To identify the occurrence of clinical and subclinical hypothyroidism among head and neck cancer patients receiving radiation to the neck and to justify routine performing of thyroid function tests during follow-up. Materials and Methods: This is a prospective nonrandomized study of 45 patients of head and neck cancer, receiving radiotherapy (RT). Thyroid stimulating hormone and T4 estimations were done at baseline and at 4 months and 9 months following RT. Results: Of the 45 patients, 37(82.2 %) were males and eight (17.8 %) were females. All patients received radiation to the neck to a dose of >40Gy. 35.6% received concurrent chemotherapy. Two patients underwent prior neck dissection. Fourteen patients (31.1%) were found to have clinical hypothyroidism (P value of 0.01). Five (11.1%) patients were found to have subclinical hypothyroidism with a total 19 of 45 (42.2%) patients developing radiation-induced hypothyroidism. Nine of 14 patients with clinical hypothyroidism were in the age group of 51 to 60 years (P=0.0522). Five of 16 patients who received chemoradiation and nine of 29 who received RT alone developed clinical hypothyroidism. Above 40 Gy radiation dose was not a relevant risk factor for hypothyroidism. Conclusion: Hypothyroidism (clinical or subclinical) is an under-recognized morbidity of external radiation to the neck which is seen following a minimum dose of 40 Gy to neck. Recognizing hypothyroidism (clinical or subclinical) early and treating it prevents associated complications. Hence, thyroid function tests should be made routine during follow-up. |
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| ISSN: | 0971-5851 |