TITLE:
Evaluation of Quality of Life Related to I-131 Therapy in Patients with Well-Differentiated Thyroid Cancer and Emphasis in Salivary Morbidity: A Follow up Study after Treatment
AUTHORS:
Lucélia Garcia Corrêa, Sônia Marta Moriguchi, Érica Boldrini, André Lopes de Carvalho, José Humberto Tavares Guerreiro Fregnani, Euclides Timóteo da Rocha
KEYWORDS:
Scintigraphy of the Salivary Glands; Thyroid Cancer; Iodine Radionuclide
JOURNAL NAME:
Advances in Bioscience and Biotechnology,
Vol.5 No.5,
April
2,
2014
ABSTRACT:
Goal: To evaluate
the impact of iodine-131 therapy received during childhood and adolescence and
correlate it with the quality of life in these patients. Methods: We studied 19
patients diagnosed with cancer in childhood or adolescence who underwent thyroidectomy
and supplemental therapy with I-131. We also recruited a control group of
healthy subjects with the same demographic parameters. All patients were
subjected to a scintigraphy examination of the salivary glands, and were also
asked to complete a questionnaire in order to assess their overall quality of
life. In addition, a more specific questionnaire for patients with head and
neck cancer was also given to all study participants. Results: The quantitative
and qualitative analyses of the salivary glands showed functional deficits with
greater involvement of the parotid gland for volume, concentration and
excretion. The right submandibular gland showed significant changes for volume
in the patient group. The questionnaires made it possible to observe
significant differences between the patient and control groups for symptoms
such as thick saliva, dry mouth and speech problems. Conclusion: In spite of
being very effective and widely used, iodine radionuclide therapy is correlated
with a lower quality of life in young people.