Nasolacrimal drainage obstruction after radioiodine therapy: case report and a review of the literature.
The authors report a 54-year-old woman with papillary thyroid carcinoma (Lindsay type, pT2 N0 M1) with pulmonary metastases. After a total thyroidectomy, a series of 3 radioiodine therapies were performed with a cumulative dose of 700 mCi I-131. After termination of the therapy, the patient was initially without complaints, but approximately 6 months later, epiphora was noted, first only of the right eye and eventually of both eyes. A whole-body I-131 scan performed 1 year after final radioiodine therapy showed atypical tracer accumulation in both medial orbital regions. This finding was new compared with the scan that was done 1 year before. Dacryocystography revealed bilateral occlusion of the lacrimal drainage system. A review of the literature shows that epiphora and lacrimal duct alterations are rarely investigated and potentially underestimated side effects after high-dose radioiodine therapy.
Brockmann
Holger
H
Department of Nuclear Medicine, University Bonn, Bonn, Germany. Holger.Brockmann@ukb.uni-bonn.de
Wilhelm
Kai
K
Joe
Alexius
A
Palmedo
Holger
H
Biersack
Hans-Juergen
HJ
D002291:Carcinoma, Papillary / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D003608:Dacryocystorhinostomy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes / Q000009:adverse effects*; D007767:Lacrimal Duct Obstruction / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D014915:Whole-Body Counting
D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals