Thyroid function post supraclavicular lymph node irradiation in patients with breast cancer
INTRODUCTION: In East Africa, the estimated incidence of breast cancer is second only to cervical cancer. Supraclavicular irradiation post-modified mastectomy is crucial to breast cancer management, as it improves local control and overall survival. However, this is associated with adverse eff...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Rwanda Biomedical Centre (RBC)/Rwanda Health Communication Center
2023-03-01
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| Series: | Rwanda Medical Journal |
| Subjects: |
| _version_ | 1797853114952318976 |
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| author | F. Rubagumya K. Makori N. Dharsee M. Tausi |
| author_facet | F. Rubagumya K. Makori N. Dharsee M. Tausi |
| author_sort | F. Rubagumya |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | INTRODUCTION: In East Africa, the estimated incidence of breast cancer is second only to
cervical cancer. Supraclavicular irradiation post-modified mastectomy is crucial to breast cancer
management, as it improves local control and overall survival. However, this is associated with
adverse effects, including hypothyroidism (HT), which is usually under-reported. This study
aim was to evaluate radiation-induced thyroid gland functional changes following treatment of
supraclavicular lymph nodes in breast cancer patients.
METHODS: This was a prospective descriptive study of patients with breast cancer from May 1,
2017, to May 30, 2018. Pre and post-treatment TSH, fT4, and fT3 values were compared using a
Wilcoxon signed-rank test.
RESULTS: A total of 42 patients were recruited for this study, with a mean age of 55.7 years (32-
71). The mean baseline TSH level was 2.90 (±6.37), with a normal range of 0.27-4.2 uIU/mL. The
mean T4 and T3 level were 15.77 (±4.83), with normal ranges of 10.16-22 pmol/l for T4, and 3.46
(±6.22), with a normal range of 1.06-3.3 nmol/l for T3. A Wilcoxon signed-rank test indicated that
there was a statistically significant increase in mean TSH levels over baseline when measured
at three, six-, and nine-months post-treatment, with p-values of 0.0047, 0.0002, and <0.0001,
respectively. In total, four patients (10%) had thyroid function tests outside the normal ranges.
Zero patients developed clinical HT during the time period studied.
CONCLUSION: As hypothesized, supraclavicular radiation led to subclinical HT, but the incidence
of clinical HT over time remains unknown. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-09T19:45:24Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-6229be00eb7e48f1aa0277f72b28ca8e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2410-8626 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-09T19:45:24Z |
| publishDate | 2023-03-01 |
| publisher | Rwanda Biomedical Centre (RBC)/Rwanda Health Communication Center |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Rwanda Medical Journal |
| spelling | doaj.art-6229be00eb7e48f1aa0277f72b28ca8e2023-04-03T18:47:52ZengRwanda Biomedical Centre (RBC)/Rwanda Health Communication CenterRwanda Medical Journal2410-86262023-03-018013543https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/rmj.v80i1.5Thyroid function post supraclavicular lymph node irradiation in patients with breast cancer F. Rubagumya0 K. Makori1N. Dharsee2M. Tausi3Rwanda Military Hospital, Kigali, Rwanda; University of Rwanda, Kigali, Rwanda International Cancer Institute, Eldoret, KenyaOcean Road Cancer Institute, Dar es salaam, TanzaniaOcean Road Cancer Institute, Dar es salaam, TanzaniaINTRODUCTION: In East Africa, the estimated incidence of breast cancer is second only to cervical cancer. Supraclavicular irradiation post-modified mastectomy is crucial to breast cancer management, as it improves local control and overall survival. However, this is associated with adverse effects, including hypothyroidism (HT), which is usually under-reported. This study aim was to evaluate radiation-induced thyroid gland functional changes following treatment of supraclavicular lymph nodes in breast cancer patients. METHODS: This was a prospective descriptive study of patients with breast cancer from May 1, 2017, to May 30, 2018. Pre and post-treatment TSH, fT4, and fT3 values were compared using a Wilcoxon signed-rank test. RESULTS: A total of 42 patients were recruited for this study, with a mean age of 55.7 years (32- 71). The mean baseline TSH level was 2.90 (±6.37), with a normal range of 0.27-4.2 uIU/mL. The mean T4 and T3 level were 15.77 (±4.83), with normal ranges of 10.16-22 pmol/l for T4, and 3.46 (±6.22), with a normal range of 1.06-3.3 nmol/l for T3. A Wilcoxon signed-rank test indicated that there was a statistically significant increase in mean TSH levels over baseline when measured at three, six-, and nine-months post-treatment, with p-values of 0.0047, 0.0002, and <0.0001, respectively. In total, four patients (10%) had thyroid function tests outside the normal ranges. Zero patients developed clinical HT during the time period studied. CONCLUSION: As hypothesized, supraclavicular radiation led to subclinical HT, but the incidence of clinical HT over time remains unknown.breast cancerradiotherapyradiation toxicitylow-income populationshypothyroidism |
| spellingShingle | F. Rubagumya K. Makori N. Dharsee M. Tausi Thyroid function post supraclavicular lymph node irradiation in patients with breast cancer Rwanda Medical Journal breast cancer radiotherapy radiation toxicity low-income populations hypothyroidism |
| title | Thyroid function post supraclavicular lymph node irradiation in patients with breast cancer |
| title_full | Thyroid function post supraclavicular lymph node irradiation in patients with breast cancer |
| title_fullStr | Thyroid function post supraclavicular lymph node irradiation in patients with breast cancer |
| title_full_unstemmed | Thyroid function post supraclavicular lymph node irradiation in patients with breast cancer |
| title_short | Thyroid function post supraclavicular lymph node irradiation in patients with breast cancer |
| title_sort | thyroid function post supraclavicular lymph node irradiation in patients with breast cancer |
| topic | breast cancer radiotherapy radiation toxicity low-income populations hypothyroidism |
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