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: Nirmala Srikantia, Karthik S Rishi, M G Janaki, Ramesh S Bilimagga, Arul Ponni, A G Rajeev, Kirthi Kaushik, Mala Dharmalingam
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Thieme Medical and Scientific Publishers Pvt. Ltd. 2011-01-01
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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author Nirmala Srikantia
Karthik S Rishi
M G Janaki
Ramesh S Bilimagga
Arul Ponni
A G Rajeev
Kirthi Kaushik
Mala Dharmalingam
author_facet Nirmala Srikantia
Karthik S Rishi
M G Janaki
Ramesh S Bilimagga
Arul Ponni
A G Rajeev
Kirthi Kaushik
Mala Dharmalingam
author_sort Nirmala Srikantia
collection DOAJ
description 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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spelling doaj-art-0eddb1e976ab44d39b722f6ae0ab6ddb2025-08-20T01:59:13ZengThieme Medical and Scientific Publishers Pvt. Ltd.Indian Journal of Medical and Paediatric Oncology0971-58512011-01-0132314314810.4103/0971-5851.92813How common is hypothyroidism after external radiotherapy to neck in head and neck cancer patients?Nirmala SrikantiaKarthik S RishiM G JanakiRamesh S BilimaggaArul PonniA G RajeevKirthi KaushikMala DharmalingamPurpose: 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.http://www.ijmpo.org/article.asp?issn=0971-5851;year=2011;volume=32;issue=3;spage=143;epage=148;aulast=SrikantiaHead and neck cancerhypothyroidismradiotherapysubclinical hypothyroidism
spellingShingle Nirmala Srikantia
Karthik S Rishi
M G Janaki
Ramesh S Bilimagga
Arul Ponni
A G Rajeev
Kirthi Kaushik
Mala Dharmalingam
How common is hypothyroidism after external radiotherapy to neck in head and neck cancer patients?
Indian Journal of Medical and Paediatric Oncology
Head and neck cancer
hypothyroidism
radiotherapy
subclinical hypothyroidism
title How common is hypothyroidism after external radiotherapy to neck in head and neck cancer patients?
title_full How common is hypothyroidism after external radiotherapy to neck in head and neck cancer patients?
title_fullStr How common is hypothyroidism after external radiotherapy to neck in head and neck cancer patients?
title_full_unstemmed How common is hypothyroidism after external radiotherapy to neck in head and neck cancer patients?
title_short How common is hypothyroidism after external radiotherapy to neck in head and neck cancer patients?
title_sort how common is hypothyroidism after external radiotherapy to neck in head and neck cancer patients
topic Head and neck cancer
hypothyroidism
radiotherapy
subclinical hypothyroidism
url 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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