Identification of prognostic factors for the development of sialadenitis on the background of radioiodine therapy

Introduction. Radioiodine therapy is a modern method of treating thyroid pathology. Its use is possible both in malignant tumors and in thyrotoxicosis. However, this technique has a complication in the form of impaired salivary gland function, which causes dryness in the oral cavity, its increase and pain syndrome.

The aim of our study to identify risk factors for the development of functional disorders of the salivary glands in patients who underwent radioiodine therapy.

Material and methods. A retro-prospective open-label, two-center, non-randomized study was conducted, which included 61 patients who received radiotherapy for thyroid diseases. In 33/61 patients, there were no signs of sialadenitis development on the background and after radioiodine therapy. Twenty-eight patients (28/61) who had a lesion of the salivary gland on the background of ongoing therapy. A statistical analysis of data on gender, age, the main clinical diagnosis, the stage of the underlying disease, the received dose of I131, the presence or absence of sialadenitis, the time from the start of radionuclide therapy to the development of sialadenitis was carried out.

Results. When analyzing the data obtained, it was revealed that independent adverse factors that increase the risk of developing salivary gland lesions in patients who received at least one session of radioiodine therapy were: female (p = 0.0219; HR 10.38: 95% CI 1.40–76.84) and age 61 years and younger (p = 0.0004; HR 1.04: 95% CI 1.02–1.06). And the median of the total accumulated dose of the radiopharmaceutical did not show its significance in the multifactorial analysis.

Conclusion. The development of chronic sialadenitis on the background of radioiodine therapy is a multifactorial pathology. This pathology requires dynamic monitoring and preventive measures, especially the risk group (female and age 61 years and younger).

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