Abstract
Background: The purpose of our study is to identify the incidence of hypothyroidism following radiotherapy in head and neck cancer patients in Rajasthan India and to assess the time period for the development of hypothyroidism for early treatment to reduce hypothyroid related morbidity and mortality.
 Methods: A prospective study conducted in Department of Radiation Oncology, S.M.S Medical College and attached group of hospital, Jaipur, Rajasthan. with 50 patients of histopathologically proven head and neck cancer receiving external beam to whole neck on telecobalt.
 Results: The patients were followed up for a period of six months. 7 (14%) patients were found to have hypothyroidism which was strongly significant with the p value of 0.02.
 Conclusion: We concluded that thyroid function tests should be made routine prior RT and during follow up period as early as 6 months and carried out lifelong.
 Keywords: Thyroid function test, Head neck cancer, Follow-up.
Highlights
Head-neck cancers affect the upper aerodigestive tract and are one of the most common cancers worldwide.[1]
Background: The purpose of our study is to identify the incidence of hypothyroidism following radiotherapy in head and neck cancer patients in Rajasthan India and to assess the time period for the development of hypothyroidism for early treatment to reduce hypothyroid related morbidity and mortality
A prospective study conducted in Department of Radiation Oncology, S.M.S Medical College and attached group of hospital, Jaipur, Rajasthan. with 50 patients of histopathologically proven head and neck cancer receiving external beam to whole neck on telecobalt
Summary
Head-neck cancers affect the upper aerodigestive tract and are one of the most common cancers worldwide.[1]. In the management of head neck cancer patients, radiotherapy is the one of the most important curative approaches, besides surgery. Hypothyroidism is the most common clinical delayed effect of post-radiotherapy head-neck cancer patients. Clinical hypothyroidism is characterized by low free T4 and high thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), and subclinical hypothyroidism is characterized by normal free T4 and high TSH. The purpose of our study is to identify the incidence of hypothyroidism following radiotherapy in head and neck cancer patients in Rajasthan India and to assess the time period for the development of hypothyroidism for early treatment to reduce hypothyroid related morbidity and mortality. Conclusion: We concluded that thyroid function tests should be made routine prior RT and during follow up period as early as 6 months and carried out lifelong.
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