Sammy C H Cheng1, Vincent W C Wu1, Dora L W Kwong2, C Y Lui3, Ashley C K Cheng3, Brian C W Kot1, Michael T C Ying1. 1. Department of Health Technology and Informatics, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hunghom, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, China. 2. Department of Clinical Oncology, Queen Mary Hospital, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China. 3. Department of Oncology, Princess Margaret Hospital, Laichikok, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, China.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: This study aimed to investigate the sonographic appearances of the thyroid glands in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) patients whose cervical lymph nodes were treated with conventional radiotherapy (RT) or intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT). The post-RT sonographic appearances of the thyroid glands in NPC patients were also correlated with the thyroid function. METHODS: One hundred and three NPC patients who had completed RT of cervical lymph nodes using the anterior cervical field, 30 NPC patients who had completed RT of cervical lymph nodes using IMRT, and 61 healthy subjects were included in the study. Thyroid glands were sonographically assessed for their size, echogenicity, vascularity, and internal architecture. Thyroid function tests were also performed on each subject. RESULTS: In comparison with the patients with abnormal thyroid function, the thyroid glands of the patients with normal thyroid function tended to be homogeneous and to have greater volume and echogenicity index (p < 0.05). Compared with those of the healthy subjects, the thyroid glands of patients previously treated with IMRT and those treated with the anterior cervical field showed significantly lower thyroid volume, lower incidence and number of nodules, and higher vascularity index (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The patient's history of previous RT should be taken into consideration in the sonographic examination of the thyroid gland post-RT.
BACKGROUND: This study aimed to investigate the sonographic appearances of the thyroid glands in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) patients whose cervical lymph nodes were treated with conventional radiotherapy (RT) or intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT). The post-RT sonographic appearances of the thyroid glands in NPCpatients were also correlated with the thyroid function. METHODS: One hundred and three NPCpatients who had completed RT of cervical lymph nodes using the anterior cervical field, 30 NPCpatients who had completed RT of cervical lymph nodes using IMRT, and 61 healthy subjects were included in the study. Thyroid glands were sonographically assessed for their size, echogenicity, vascularity, and internal architecture. Thyroid function tests were also performed on each subject. RESULTS: In comparison with the patients with abnormal thyroid function, the thyroid glands of the patients with normal thyroid function tended to be homogeneous and to have greater volume and echogenicity index (p < 0.05). Compared with those of the healthy subjects, the thyroid glands of patients previously treated with IMRT and those treated with the anterior cervical field showed significantly lower thyroid volume, lower incidence and number of nodules, and higher vascularity index (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The patient's history of previous RT should be taken into consideration in the sonographic examination of the thyroid gland post-RT.
Authors: Mona Kamal; Christopher Ryan Peeler; Pablo Yepes; Abdallah S R Mohamed; Pierre Blanchard; Steven Frank; Lei Chen; Amit Jethanandani; Rohit Kuruvilla; Benjamin Greiner; Jared Harp; Robin Granberry; Vivek Mehta; Crosby Rock; Katherine Hutcheson; Carlos Cardenas; G Brandon Gunn; Clifton Fuller; Dragan Mirkovic Journal: Adv Radiat Oncol Date: 2019-09-07