Hypopituitarism in patients with a history of irradiation to the head and neck area: diagnoses and implications for nursing.
Patients treated with irradiation for head and neck tumors are at risk of developing endocrine complications resulting from hypothalamic-pituitary damage caused by the radiotherapy. Since nurses are likely to see patients with a history of irradiation to the head and neck area in their practice settings, they should be aware of the signs and symptoms of hypopituitarism. As patients with hypopituitarism survive longer, nurses are more likely to come into contact with them for other healthcare problems. Nurses have an important role in the procedures used to diagnose hypopituitarism. Patient follow-up involves testing of the hypothalamic-pituitary axis by stimulatory testing.
Schultz
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PN
D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D006801:Humans; D007018:Hypopituitarism / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000451:nursing*; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects*