Jeong-Seok Choi1, Seong Bin Hong2, In Young Hyun3, Jae-Yol Lim1, Young-Mo Kim1. 1. 1 Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Inha University School of Medicine , Incheon, Republic of Korea. 2. 2 Department of Internal Medicine, Inha University School of Medicine , Incheon, Republic of Korea. 3. 3 Department of Nuclear Medicine, Inha University School of Medicine , Incheon, Republic of Korea.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The aim of this prospective study was to investigate the effect of salivary stimulation therapy using pilocarpine (a cholinergic agent) on chronic radioactive iodine (RAI)-induced sialadenitis. METHODS: Sixty-one patients with a diagnosis of chronic RAI-induced sialadenitis after thyroidectomy and RAI therapy were enrolled in this prospective study. Patients received salivary stimulation therapy with pilocarpine (5 mg, 3 times daily) over a 3-month period. Subjective symptom scores were assessed using self-reported questionnaires. Salivary flow rates (SFRs) were measured and salivary gland scintigraphy (SGS) was performed to evaluate objective salivary gland functions. RESULTS: After salivary stimulation therapy, subjective symptom scores were significantly improved (p=0.002), but posttreatment unstimulated and stimulated SFRs did not differ significantly from pretreatment values. SGS parameters, that is, uptake ratio (UR), maximum accumulation (MA), Tmin, and maximum secretion (MS) of parotid and submandibular glands were nonsignificantly different after salivary stimulation therapy. CONCLUSION: The study shows that salivary stimulation therapy may reduce the subjective symptoms of RAI-induced chronic sialadenitis but does not significantly induce functional restoration.
BACKGROUND: The aim of this prospective study was to investigate the effect of salivary stimulation therapy using pilocarpine (a cholinergic agent) on chronic radioactive iodine (RAI)-induced sialadenitis. METHODS: Sixty-one patients with a diagnosis of chronic RAI-induced sialadenitis after thyroidectomy and RAI therapy were enrolled in this prospective study. Patients received salivary stimulation therapy with pilocarpine (5 mg, 3 times daily) over a 3-month period. Subjective symptom scores were assessed using self-reported questionnaires. Salivary flow rates (SFRs) were measured and salivary gland scintigraphy (SGS) was performed to evaluate objective salivary gland functions. RESULTS: After salivary stimulation therapy, subjective symptom scores were significantly improved (p=0.002), but posttreatment unstimulated and stimulated SFRs did not differ significantly from pretreatment values. SGS parameters, that is, uptake ratio (UR), maximum accumulation (MA), Tmin, and maximum secretion (MS) of parotid and submandibular glands were nonsignificantly different after salivary stimulation therapy. CONCLUSION: The study shows that salivary stimulation therapy may reduce the subjective symptoms of RAI-induced chronic sialadenitis but does not significantly induce functional restoration.