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Post-radiotherapy hypothyroidism in dogs treated for thyroid carcinomas
I Amores-Fuster1, P Cripps2, L Blackwood1
1Small Animal Teaching Hospital, University of Liverpool, Neston, Wirral, UK.
Veterinary and Comparative Oncology
|August 25, 2015
Summary
Hypothyroidism is a common side effect in dogs after thyroid cancer radiotherapy, affecting nearly half of the dogs studied. Regular thyroid function monitoring is recommended post-treatment.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Oncology
- Endocrinology
Background:
- Hypothyroidism is a known adverse effect of radiotherapy in humans, but is rarely reported in dogs.
- Thyroid carcinoma is a common endocrine malignancy in dogs.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the incidence and potential risk factors of hypothyroidism following radiotherapy for thyroid carcinoma in dogs.
- To determine the time to diagnosis and identify any associations with treatment protocols.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective review of 21 dogs with histologically or cytologically confirmed thyroid carcinoma treated with definitive or hypofractionated radiotherapy.
- Analysis of radiotherapy protocols (dose, fractions) and patient data to assess hypothyroidism development.
Main Results:
- Ten out of 21 dogs (47.6%) developed hypothyroidism post-radiotherapy.
- The incidence of hypothyroidism was not significantly associated with the specific radiotherapy protocol used.
- The median time to diagnosis of hypothyroidism was 6 months (range: 1-13 months).
Conclusions:
- Hypothyroidism is a common complication following radiotherapy for canine thyroid carcinomas.
- Routine monitoring of thyroid function is crucial for dogs treated with radiotherapy for thyroid cancer.
- No specific risk factors for developing hypothyroidism after this treatment were identified in this study.
