Hypothyroidism following radiotherapy for head and neck cancer: multivariate analysis of risk factors

The incidence of hypothyroidism following radiotherapy for head and neck cancer is 10-45% in several series. In order to identify possible risk factors a multivariate analysis was performed in 221 patients previously treated with either radiotherapy alone or combined with surgery or chemotherapy. Diagnostic procedures included: total T3 and T4, free T4 and TSH measured by radioimmunoassay, and thyroid scintigraphy. The absolute rate of hypothyroidism was 41.17% (subclinical 26.24%, clinical 14.93%). No thyroid nodules were detected in any patient. By multivariate analysis, risk factors that significantly influenced a higher incidence of hypofunction were: high radiation dose (p = 0.000), combination of radiotherapy and cervical surgery (p = 0.003), time from therapy (p = 0.022) and no shielding of midline (p = 0.026).