Thyroid dysfunction after combined therapy for laryngeal cancer: a prospective study

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of this study was to assess the incidence of the thyroid dysfunction in a group of patients treated with laryngectomy and radiotherapy for larynx cancer and to analyze the risk factors related to the development of hypothyroidism.

Study design: This was a prospective study conducted in a tertiary center hospital.

Subjects and methods: Thyroid function tests have been applied to 75 patients treated with surgery and radiotherapy preoperatively, before radiotherapy, and postoperatively. Risk factors have been analyzed by carrying out a multivariate analysis.

Results: All the patients were men with the mean age of 59.4 and an average follow-up of 28.6 months. The incidence of hypothyroidism was 49.3 percent. The average time to detection of hypothyroidism was 6 months after the completion of treatment. Radiotherapy dose, type of laryngectomy, extent of neck dissection, implementation of thyroid lobectomy, and presence of thyroiditis in specimens were risk factors for thyroid dysfunction.

Conclusions: It is important to check the thyroid function periodically in these patients especially with risk factor to obtain early diagnosis and appropriate treatment.