Emptying effect of massage on parotid gland radioiodine content

To prevent salivary dysfunction in thyroid cancer patients who have undergone radioiodine ablation, massaging the parotid gland (PG) is presumed to be helpful for the removal of radioiodine. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of PG massage in the removal of radioiodine from the PG.

Forty-four patients (female, 38; 49.1 ± 11.0 years) who underwent total thyroidectomy followed by I-131 ablation were included in this prospective study. Three serial salivary gland scans were performed 2 h after administration of I-123 in thyroid hormone withdrawal status. The patients were divided into two groups. There was a 1-min (or 2-min) interval between the first and second scans for control, followed by the performance of PG massage for 1 min (or 2 min) between the second and third scans. Changes in uptakes were calculated between the first and second scans (control) and between the second and third scans (massage).

The mean change in uptake at the 1-min massage was 0.97 ± 11.27%, whereas that at the 1-min control was 11.54 ± 5.59% (P<0.001). The mean change in uptake at the 2-min massage was also significantly lower than that at the 2-min control (11.11 ± 6.97 vs. -0.85 ± 9.78%, P<0.001). However, no statistical difference was observed between the mean changes in uptake after 1- and 2-min massages (P=0.573).

PG massage reduced the radioiodine uptake in the PG, and the effect of PG massage for 1 min was comparable with that of PG massage for 2 min. PG massage can be applied to thyroid cancer patients who receive radioiodine therapy to reduce PG dysfunction.