Symptomatic late-onset sialadenitis after radioiodine therapy in thyroid cancer

The aim of this study was to document the subjective and objective findings of symptomatic late-onset sialadenitis after radioiodine therapy in patients with differentiated thyroid cancer.

Subjective symptoms related to sialadenitis and Tc-99m pertechnetate salivary gland scintigram findings were assessed in 118 patients (26 males, 92 females) both before and during the late phase (mean 338 days) after the administration of radioiodine.

Twelve of the 118 patients (10.2 %) complained of symptomatic sialadenitis in the late phase without symptoms during the early phase (within 7 days of radioiodine administration). Significant associations were found between subjective symptoms and visual scintigram findings during the late phase (p = 0.023). Furthermore, uptake and excretion by both parotid glands were significantly affected by radioiodine therapy.

Symptomatic late-onset sialadenitis occurred at an incidence of 10.2 %, and salivary gland function was affected in both parotids in most patients.