SOMATIC RISKS OF RADIOIODINE THERAPY IN PATIENTS WITH DIFFERENTIATED THYROID-CARCINOMA

Patients with differentiated carcinoma of the thyroid are usually treated with high doses of radioiodine, especially in case of metastasis. Radioiodine therapy has proven to be highly specific and results in a significant improvement of prognosis. We present own experiences with 67 patients who have been treated from January 1989 to June 1990. Gastric discomfort (9-31 %), local cervical inflammation (23 %), and acute sialadenitis (2 %) were the main problems and side-effects during the first days after oral application of radioiodine. A reversible deterioration of the red blood cell count and decreasing leukocyte or platelet numbers often indicate temporary marrow depression. A persistent damage of the salivary glands causing dry mouth is also common especially after repeated radioiodine therapy. Complications as pneumonitis in the case of pulmonary metastasis, acute paresis of the recurrent nerve, thyroid storm, cerebral edema, or hemorrhage in metastatic tumor tissue are rarely described; none of our patients suffered from severe side-effects.