RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Does Lemon Candy Decrease Salivary Gland Damage After Radioiodine Therapy for Thyroid Cancer?
JF Journal of Nuclear Medicine
JO J Nucl Med
FD Society of Nuclear Medicine
SP 261
OP 266
VO 46
IS 2
A1 Nakada, Kunihiro
A1 Ishibashi, Tetsuya
A1 Takei, Toshiki
A1 Hirata, Kenji
A1 Shinohara, Katsura
A1 Katoh, Seiichi
A1 Zhao, Sonji
A1 Tamaki, Nagara
A1 Noguchi, Yasushi
A1 Noguchi, Shiro
YR 2005
UL http://jnm.snmjournals.org/content/46/2/261.abstract
AB Salivary gland dysfunction is one of the common side effects of high-dose radioiodine therapy for thyroid cancer. The purpose of this study was to determine whether an early start of sucking lemon candy decreases salivary gland injury after radioiodine therapy. Methods: The incidence of the side effects of radioiodine therapy on the salivary glands was prospectively and longitudinally investigated in 2 groups of patients with postsurgical differentiated thyroid cancer with varying regimens for sucking lemon candy. From August 1999 to October 2000, 116 consecutive patients were asked to suck 1 or 2 lemon candies every 2–3 h in the daytime of the first 5 d after radioiodine therapy (group A). Lemon candy sucking was started within 1 h after radioiodine ingestion. From November 2000 to June 2002, 139 consecutive patients (group B) were asked to suck lemon candies in a manner similar to that of group A. In the group B, lemon candies were withheld until 24 h after the ingestion of radioiodine. Patients with salivary gland disorders, diabetes, collagen tissue diseases, or a previous history of radioiodine therapy or external irradiation to the neck were excluded. Thus, 105 patients in group A and 125 patients in group B were available for analysis. There were no statistical differences in the mean age (55.2 y vs. 58.5 y), average levels of serum free thyroxine (l-3,5,3′,5′-tetraiodothyronine) (0.40 ng/dL vs. 0.47 ng/dL), and the mean dose of 131I administered (3.96 GBq vs. 3.87 GBq) between the 2 groups. The onset of salivary side effects was monitored during hospital admission and regular follow-up on the basis of interviews with patients, a visual analog scale, and salivary gland scintigraphy using 99mTc-pertechnetate. When a patient showed a persistent (>4 mo) dry mouth associated with a nonfunctioning pattern on salivary gland scintigraphy, a diagnosis of xerostomia was established. Results: The incidences of sialoadenitis, hypogeusia or taste loss, and dry mouth with or without repeated sialadenitis in group A versus group B were 63.8% versus 36.8% (P < 0.001), 39.0% versus 25.6% (P < 0.01), and 23.8% versus 11.2% (P < 0.005), respectively. Permanent xerostomia occurred in 15 patients in group A (14.3%) and 7 patients in group B (5.6%) (P < 0.05). In both groups, bilateral involvement of the parotid gland was the most frequently seen and was followed by bilateral involvement of the submandibular gland. Conclusion: An early start of sucking lemon candy may induce a significant increase in salivary gland damage. Lemon candy should not be given until 24 h after radioiodine therapy.