To compare the effect of conventional radiotherapy versus concurrent chemoradiotherapy on the thyroid gland after external beam radiotherapy in head-and-neck carcinoma

Introduction: Radiotherapy-induced hypothyroidism has remained underestimated and under reported ailment, because of noninclusion of routine assessment of thyroid function test in baseline workup and during follow-up protocol, which results in failure to detect and treat a reversible cause of morbid...

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Main Authors: Surabhi Gupta, Shashi Bhoosan Upadhyay, Sarvesh Yadav, Hari Singh, Anuj Kumar Tyagi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2021-01-01
Series:Journal of Radiation and Cancer Research
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.journalrcr.org/article.asp?issn=2588-9273;year=2021;volume=12;issue=3;spage=111;epage=118;aulast=Gupta
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author Surabhi Gupta
Shashi Bhoosan Upadhyay
Sarvesh Yadav
Hari Singh
Anuj Kumar Tyagi
author_facet Surabhi Gupta
Shashi Bhoosan Upadhyay
Sarvesh Yadav
Hari Singh
Anuj Kumar Tyagi
author_sort Surabhi Gupta
collection DOAJ
description Introduction: Radiotherapy-induced hypothyroidism has remained underestimated and under reported ailment, because of noninclusion of routine assessment of thyroid function test in baseline workup and during follow-up protocol, which results in failure to detect and treat a reversible cause of morbidity in significant proportion of surviving patients. Greater magnitude and duration of thyroid-stimulating hormone elevation increase the probability of progression to clinical hypothyroidism and therefore increase the potential benefit of treatment of subclinical hypothyroidism. Hence, recognizing subclinical hypothyroidism at an early stage can prevent clinical hypothyroidism and its associated morbidities. Aims and Objectives: The aim of the present prospective study was to evaluate the functional and anatomical changes in thyroid glands in patients with head-and-neck cancer treated with conventional radiotherapy (external beam radiotherapy) and concurrent chemoradiotherapy and to assess the necessity of inclusion of routine thyroid function test in the workup and follow-up protocol of these patients. Materials and Methods: A total of 98 patients were randomly allocated in two arms. In arm I, 50 patients received concurrent chemoradiotherapy and in arm II, 48 patients underwent radical conventional radiotherapy alone. Baseline thyroid function test and ultrasonography of neck along with thoroughly clinical evaluation were done for every patient and these investigations were repeated in the middle of radiotherapy treatment (after 17 #), at the end of radiotherapy treatment, 3 months after completion of radiotherapy, and after that, at every 3rd-month follow-up to determine late changes in thyroid function test and echotexture. Results: In arm I, total 60% patients developed acute hyperthyroidism while in arm II, 68.75% patients developed acute hyperthyroidism. A total of 18.36% patients were found to have subclinical hypothyroidism. At the 9th month of follow-up, 55 out of 98 patients (56.12%) developed hypothyroidism. Among 55 patients, 37 were having clinical hypothyroidism while 18 patients were having subclinical hypothyroidism (P ≤ 0.0001). Maximum number of patients, i.e. 26/98 (47.27%) developing hypothyroidism were between 51 and 60 years of age group. Addition of surgery and chemotherapy had shown no difference in thyroid dysfunction. Patients with clinical hypothyroidism required medical management while patients with subclinical hypothyroidism were kept on close monitoring. Conclusion: Recognizing hypothyroidism (clinical or subclinical) early and treating it timely can prevent associated complications which are often ignored. Hence, thyroid function tests should be done routinely that is before starting of radiotherapy, on completion of radiotherapy, and during follow-up as well.
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spelling doaj.art-1e47f0c92a084cb69baf86a5be213aab2022-12-21T20:40:08ZengWolters Kluwer Medknow PublicationsJournal of Radiation and Cancer Research2588-92732468-92032021-01-0112311111810.4103/jrcr.jrcr_13_21To compare the effect of conventional radiotherapy versus concurrent chemoradiotherapy on the thyroid gland after external beam radiotherapy in head-and-neck carcinomaSurabhi GuptaShashi Bhoosan UpadhyaySarvesh YadavHari SinghAnuj Kumar TyagiIntroduction: Radiotherapy-induced hypothyroidism has remained underestimated and under reported ailment, because of noninclusion of routine assessment of thyroid function test in baseline workup and during follow-up protocol, which results in failure to detect and treat a reversible cause of morbidity in significant proportion of surviving patients. Greater magnitude and duration of thyroid-stimulating hormone elevation increase the probability of progression to clinical hypothyroidism and therefore increase the potential benefit of treatment of subclinical hypothyroidism. Hence, recognizing subclinical hypothyroidism at an early stage can prevent clinical hypothyroidism and its associated morbidities. Aims and Objectives: The aim of the present prospective study was to evaluate the functional and anatomical changes in thyroid glands in patients with head-and-neck cancer treated with conventional radiotherapy (external beam radiotherapy) and concurrent chemoradiotherapy and to assess the necessity of inclusion of routine thyroid function test in the workup and follow-up protocol of these patients. Materials and Methods: A total of 98 patients were randomly allocated in two arms. In arm I, 50 patients received concurrent chemoradiotherapy and in arm II, 48 patients underwent radical conventional radiotherapy alone. Baseline thyroid function test and ultrasonography of neck along with thoroughly clinical evaluation were done for every patient and these investigations were repeated in the middle of radiotherapy treatment (after 17 #), at the end of radiotherapy treatment, 3 months after completion of radiotherapy, and after that, at every 3rd-month follow-up to determine late changes in thyroid function test and echotexture. Results: In arm I, total 60% patients developed acute hyperthyroidism while in arm II, 68.75% patients developed acute hyperthyroidism. A total of 18.36% patients were found to have subclinical hypothyroidism. At the 9th month of follow-up, 55 out of 98 patients (56.12%) developed hypothyroidism. Among 55 patients, 37 were having clinical hypothyroidism while 18 patients were having subclinical hypothyroidism (P ≤ 0.0001). Maximum number of patients, i.e. 26/98 (47.27%) developing hypothyroidism were between 51 and 60 years of age group. Addition of surgery and chemotherapy had shown no difference in thyroid dysfunction. Patients with clinical hypothyroidism required medical management while patients with subclinical hypothyroidism were kept on close monitoring. Conclusion: Recognizing hypothyroidism (clinical or subclinical) early and treating it timely can prevent associated complications which are often ignored. Hence, thyroid function tests should be done routinely that is before starting of radiotherapy, on completion of radiotherapy, and during follow-up as well.http://www.journalrcr.org/article.asp?issn=2588-9273;year=2021;volume=12;issue=3;spage=111;epage=118;aulast=Guptaclinical hypothyroidismconcurrent chemoradiotherapyhyperthyroidismradiotherapysubclinical hypothyroidism
spellingShingle Surabhi Gupta
Shashi Bhoosan Upadhyay
Sarvesh Yadav
Hari Singh
Anuj Kumar Tyagi
To compare the effect of conventional radiotherapy versus concurrent chemoradiotherapy on the thyroid gland after external beam radiotherapy in head-and-neck carcinoma
Journal of Radiation and Cancer Research
clinical hypothyroidism
concurrent chemoradiotherapy
hyperthyroidism
radiotherapy
subclinical hypothyroidism
title To compare the effect of conventional radiotherapy versus concurrent chemoradiotherapy on the thyroid gland after external beam radiotherapy in head-and-neck carcinoma
title_full To compare the effect of conventional radiotherapy versus concurrent chemoradiotherapy on the thyroid gland after external beam radiotherapy in head-and-neck carcinoma
title_fullStr To compare the effect of conventional radiotherapy versus concurrent chemoradiotherapy on the thyroid gland after external beam radiotherapy in head-and-neck carcinoma
title_full_unstemmed To compare the effect of conventional radiotherapy versus concurrent chemoradiotherapy on the thyroid gland after external beam radiotherapy in head-and-neck carcinoma
title_short To compare the effect of conventional radiotherapy versus concurrent chemoradiotherapy on the thyroid gland after external beam radiotherapy in head-and-neck carcinoma
title_sort to compare the effect of conventional radiotherapy versus concurrent chemoradiotherapy on the thyroid gland after external beam radiotherapy in head and neck carcinoma
topic clinical hypothyroidism
concurrent chemoradiotherapy
hyperthyroidism
radiotherapy
subclinical hypothyroidism
url http://www.journalrcr.org/article.asp?issn=2588-9273;year=2021;volume=12;issue=3;spage=111;epage=118;aulast=Gupta
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