Thyroid function after mantle irradiation in Hodgkin's disease

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Abstract
The thyroid function of 64 patients with Hodgkin''s disease who received mantle irradiation during the period 1966-1976 was studied. More than 2/3 (44 of 64) had some thyroid dysfunction. Twenty had mild dysfunction manifested by an abnormal thyroid-stimulating hormone response to thyrotropin-releasing hormone. Twenty had what could be termed compensated hypothyroidism; 4 were overtly hypothyroid. The severity of dysfunction was not related to age, sex or chemotherapy. Decreased thyroid function was inversely proportional to the length of time between a diagnostic lymphangiogram and the radiation therapy. The I load of the lymphangiogram probably renders the thyroid gland more radiosensitive. Thyroxine suppression of the thyroid gland during the period from the lymphangiogram through the termination of radiation is suggested as a means of avoiding thyroid injury.

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