Is the treatment of Hodgkin's disease detrimental to the parathyroid gland?

The thyroid gland is often injured by supradiaphragmatic irradiation for Hodgkin's lymphoma. The aim of the present study was to examine whether the parathyroid gland gets injured by the treatment for Hodgkin's disease. Calcium, phosphorus and parathormone levels of 143 patients with primary treatment for Hodgkin's disease and in complete remission for 2 years were measured as well as the presence of antiparathyroid antibody in patients having antithyroid antibody. Out of the 143 patients studied, 104 received neck irradiation (with or without chemotherapy); among them laboratory alterations were observed in 7 cases. 39 patients received only chemotherapy; 3 of them had alterations. In contrast to the injury of the thyroid gland, no damage to the parathyroid glands associated with the treatment for Hodgkin's disease was noted. It has been concluded that the use of high-dose external radiotherapy does not mean a higher risk as regards the parathyroid gland but further follow-up studies of the patients may result in the revelation of the development of parathyroid lesions.