The Role of Radioactive Iodine in Salivary Gland Dysfunction

• Published in: Ear, nose, & throat journal Vol. 79; no. 6; pp. 460 - 468
• Main Authors: Newkirk, Kenneth A., Ringel, Matthew D., Wartofsky, Leonard, Burman, Kenneth D.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Los Angeles, CA SAGE Publications 01.06.2000; Medquest Communications; Sage Publications, Inc; SAGE PUBLICATIONS, INC
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Care and treatment; Complications and side effects; Cytoprotection; Drug toxicity and drugs side effects treatment; Endocrinopathies; Humans; Iodine; Iodine Radioisotopes - adverse effects; Iodine Radioisotopes - therapeutic use; Isotopes; Malignant tumors; Medical sciences; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Radiotherapy; Saliva; Salivary Gland Diseases - chemically induced; Salivary Gland Diseases - physiopathology; Salivary Gland Diseases - prevention & control; Salivary glands; Salivary Glands - anatomy & histology; Salivary Glands - physiology; secretions; Thyroid cancer; Thyroid Neoplasms - drug therapy; Thyroid. Thyroid axis (diseases); Toxicity: respiratory system, ent, stomatology; United States; Endocrinopathy; Human; Toxicity; Thyroid diseases; Salivary gland; Radioactive product; Thyroid gland; Review; Malignant tumor; Symptomatology; Salivary gland disease; Treatment; Cytoprotector; ENT disease; Complication; Combined treatment; Iodine
• ISSN: 0145-5613; 1942-7522
• DOI: 10.1177/014556130007900612

The use of radioactive iodine has become an important adjunct to the treatment of thyroid cancer. Many normal tissues—including salivary glands, gastrointestinal mucosa, gonads, and lactating breast tissue—have the ability to concentrate radioactive iodine under normal circumstances. Although the mechanism is just beginning to be elucidated, it is this ability that might contribute to the immediate and long-term complications associated with radioactive iodine treatment. In some patients, the salivary complications can be permanent and might compromise daily functioning. In this article, we examine the salivary gland complications associated with radioactive iodine therapy, and we suggest potential protective mechanisms to circumvent these problems.