[Clinical picture and possible causes of functional disorders of the parotid gland in radioiodine therapy of differentiated thyroid cancer].

The parotid gland function was examined in 31 patients with thyroid carcinoma treated with radio-iodine. Beside enhanced values of sodium concentration, protein concentration and alpha-amylase activity following each therapy, a continuous reduction of flow rate and alpha-amylase activity is found according to the cumulative total dose. The importance of glandular kallikrein und phosphohexoseisomerase (PHI) are discussed with regard to their possible role in glandular damage. A comparison is made with chronic recurrent parotitis, and therapeutical aspects are considered. On the whole the present investigation shows that radio-iodine therapy causes damage to the parotid gland, which normally leads to measurable effects after cumulative doses of 470 mCi.