title: Salivary glands ultrasound examination after radioiodine-131 treatment for differentiated thyroid cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The most important side effect of radioiodine ((131)I) therapy is sialoadenitis and xerostomy.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate by ultrasound (US) parotid and submandibular glands after (131)I therapy for differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC).
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventy-six subjects thyroidectomized for DTC submitted to salivary glands US examination. Forty-three of them had been previously treated with (131)I: 22 with 1.11 GBq (30 mCi) for remnant ablation, and 21 with higher doses [up to 44.4 GBq (1200 mCi)] for metastases. Thirty-three subjects studied before (131)I therapy served as controls. Parotid and submandibular volume, homogeneity, and echogenicity were determined. (131)I-treated patients filled a questionnaire about sialoadenitis symptoms.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Parotid gland volume was significantly higher in treated patients (28.3±16.2 ml) than in untreated patients (20.7±10.4 ml, p=0.0154) and related to the time from last (131)I therapy. Three had parotid volume <1.5 ml and complained severe xerostomy. Submandibular gland volume was similar in treated (11.2±7.6 ml) and untreated patients (8.6±4.2 ml, p=0.0602). Homogeneity and echogenicity were similar in treated and untreated patients. Sialoadenitis symptoms were reported in 26% and were related to the (131)I cumulative dose. Symptoms were not related to gland volume. Hypoechogenicity and inhomogeneity of the parotids were more frequent in patients with salivary stickiness.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Parotid, but not submandibular, volume is increased after (131)I treatment depending on the received activity and the time from irradiation but not on sialoadenitis symptoms. Xerostomy is associated to gland atrophy at US.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, University of Pisa Medical School and Hospital, Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Brozzi
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Rago
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Bencivelli
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bianchi
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Santini
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vitti
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pinchera
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ceccarelli
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018265:Carcinoma, Papillary, Follicular / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009929:Organ Size; D010309:Parotitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D012466:Salivary Gland Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D012469:Salivary Glands / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D013651:Taste Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014987:Xerostomia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology
chemical_list: D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes