Hypothyroidism after primary surgical treatment for laryngeal and hypopharyngeal cancer.

OBJECTIVES

We investigated the incidence of hypothyroidism after treatment of laryngeal or hypopharyngeal cancer (LHC), and evaluated its relationship with treatment modalities.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Thyroid functions of 42 patients (41 males, 1 female; mean age 58 years; range 35 to 81 years) undergoing surgical treatment with (74%) or without adjuvant radiotherapy for LHC were prospectively evaluated preoperatively, on the 15th day, and in the sixth month postoperatively. The results were compared in relation to the treatment methods employed.

RESULTS

The overall incidence of post-treatment hypothyroidism was 23.8%. Five patients had hypothyroidism in the early postoperative period, and this number increased to 10 after six months. All patients with hypothyroidism had undergone total laryngectomy with bilateral neck dissection, followed by radiotherapy. A significantly higher incidence of hypothyroidism was associated with total laryngectomy, bilateral neck dissection, level VI dissection, partial or bilateral thyroidectomy, adjuvant radiotherapy, and upper mediastinal radiotherapy.

CONCLUSION

The incidence of post-treatment hypothyroidism is not rare in LHC patients, requiring long-term monitoring of thyroid functions to prevent associated morbidities.