Hypothyroidism after primary surgical treatment for laryngeal and hypopharyngeal cancer.
OBJECTIVE
We investigated the incidence of hypothyroidism after treatment of laryngeal or hypopharyngeal cancer (LHC), and evaluated its relationship with treatment modalities.


METHODS
Thyroid functions of 42 patients (41 males, 1 female; mean age 58 years; range 35 to 81 years) undergoing surgical treatment with (74%) or without adjuvant radiotherapy for LHC were prospectively evaluated preoperatively, on the 15th day, and in the sixth month postoperatively. The results were compared in relation to the treatment methods employed.


RESULTS
The overall incidence of post-treatment hypothyroidism was 23.8%. Five patients had hypothyroidism in the early postoperative period, and this number increased to 10 after six months. All patients with hypothyroidism had undergone total laryngectomy with bilateral neck dissection, followed by radiotherapy. A significantly higher incidence of hypothyroidism was associated with total laryngectomy, bilateral neck dissection, level VI dissection, partial or bilateral thyroidectomy, adjuvant radiotherapy, and upper mediastinal radiotherapy.


CONCLUSIONS
The incidence of post-treatment hypothyroidism is not rare in LHC patients, requiring long-term monitoring of thyroid functions to prevent associated morbidities.
Turgut
Ozlem Kaya
OK
Department of Otolaryngology, Medicine Faculty of Uludağ University, Bursa, Turkey.
Erişen
Levent
L
Coşkun
Hakan
H
Basut
Oğuz
O
Onart
Selçuk
S
Hizalan
Ibrahim
I
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007012:Hypopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery*; D007037:Hypothyroidism / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D015994:Incidence; D007822:Laryngeal Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery*; D007825:Laryngectomy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D037981:Neck Dissection / Q000009:adverse effects; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant / Q000009:adverse effects; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D013960:Thyroid Function Tests; D013965:Thyroidectomy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013997:Time Factors; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology