Premium
Unchanged parathyroid function following irradiation for malignancies of the head and neck
Author(s) -
Holten Iben,
Christiansen Claus
Publication year - 1984
Publication title -
cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.052
H-Index - 304
eISSN - 1097-0142
pISSN - 0008-543X
DOI - 10.1002/1097-0142(19840215)53:4<874::aid-cncr2820530410>3.0.co;2-y
Subject(s) - medicine , primary hyperparathyroidism , parathyroid hormone , head and neck cancer , hyperparathyroidism , irradiation , urology , radiation therapy , cancer , secondary hyperparathyroidism , head and neck , calcium , endocrinology , surgery , physics , nuclear physics
Abstract Irradiation to the neck increases the prevalence of hyperparathyroidism and may cause parathyroid insufficiency. In this study, 35 patients who received therapeutic irradiation to the neck and a control group comprising 19 patients who received radiation to the bladder were studied before, during, and until 2 months after irradiation in order to see whether there were any measurable changes in the parathyroid function. In both groups the serum concentrations of calcium, phosphate and parathyroid hormone were unchanged. Serum protein and albumin decreased in the bladder cancer group. The results support the concept that the parathyroid gland has a low radiation sensitivity, and radiation induced changes may not manifest itself before years after irradiation, due to the low mitotic activity.