[Observations of the thyroid function after treatment of the laryngeal carcinoma with 60Co]

We have examined 16 patients with laryngeal carcinomas who had been submitted to laryngectomy and subsequent 60Co therapy (dose 60-70 Gy, thyroid exposure 50-60 Gy). After an interval of several years, some patients showed alterations of the thyroid function, i.e. a problematic hypothyreosis in two patients and a latent or compensated hypothyreosis in six patients. The latter could be demonstrated by several functional in-vitro tests (T3 saturation, T4, T3-RIA, TSHV, TRH). Especially the TRH test showed significant alterations in four patients. The results obtained from this relatively small number of cases correspond to the descriptions in literature of irradiation damages to the thyroid caused by the treatment of the laryngeal carcinoma. Despite the necessity of further control examinations of a greater number of patients, the results achieved hitherto suggest a prophylactic or substituting hormone treatment during the radiotherapy of the laryngeal carcinoma.