title: Emptying effect of massage on parotid gland radioiodine content.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To prevent salivary dysfunction in thyroid cancer patients who have undergone radioiodine ablation, massaging the parotid gland (PG) is presumed to be helpful for the removal of radioiodine. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of PG massage in the removal of radioiodine from the PG.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-four patients (female, 38; 49.1 ± 11.0 years) who underwent total thyroidectomy followed by I-131 ablation were included in this prospective study. Three serial salivary gland scans were performed 2 h after administration of I-123 in thyroid hormone withdrawal status. The patients were divided into two groups. There was a 1-min (or 2-min) interval between the first and second scans for control, followed by the performance of PG massage for 1 min (or 2 min) between the second and third scans. Changes in uptakes were calculated between the first and second scans (control) and between the second and third scans (massage).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean change in uptake at the 1-min massage was 0.97 ± 11.27%, whereas that at the 1-min control was 11.54 ± 5.59% (P<0.001). The mean change in uptake at the 2-min massage was also significantly lower than that at the 2-min control (11.11 ± 6.97 vs. -0.85 ± 9.78%, P<0.001). However, no statistical difference was observed between the mean changes in uptake after 1- and 2-min massages (P=0.573).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PG massage reduced the radioiodine uptake in the PG, and the effect of PG massage for 1 min was comparable with that of PG massage for 2 min. PG massage can be applied to thyroid cancer patients who receive radioiodine therapy to reduce PG dysfunction.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nuclear Medicine, Kyungpook National University, School of Medicine and Hospital, Daegu, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Chae Moon
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.forename: Seung Hyun
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Son
authors.forename: Choon-Young
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Do-Hoon
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Shin Young
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Jeong
authors.forename: Sang-Woo
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Jaetae
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Byeong-Cheol
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Ahn
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001692:Biological Transport; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008405:Massage; D008875:Middle Aged; D010306:Parotid Gland / Q000378:metabolism*; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D013965:Thyroidectomy
chemical_list: D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes