Surveillance following head, neck, and chest radiotherapy: Thyroid ultrasound monitoring for secondary thyroid malignancy
- Resource Type
- Authors
- Laura Martin; William Hopkins; Caitlin Kelly; Jason Canner; Sharad Salvi; Ammar Hayani; Linda Rivard; Sarah H. O'Brien
- Source
- Pediatric Blood & Cancer. 60:140-142
- Subject
- Thyroid nodules
Thorax
endocrine system
medicine.medical_specialty
endocrine system diseases
medicine.diagnostic_test
business.industry
medicine.medical_treatment
Thyroid
Thyroidectomy
Retrospective cohort study
Physical examination
Nodule (medicine)
Hematology
medicine.disease
Radiation therapy
medicine.anatomical_structure
Oncology
Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health
medicine
Radiology
medicine.symptom
business
- Language
- ISSN
- 1545-5009
Children who receive head, neck, or chest radiotherapy for various primary malignancies have increased risk for secondary thyroid malignancy. Thyroid nodules are difficult to identify by physical examination and/or laboratory tests. Thyroid ultrasound can detect non-palpable nodules without adverse side effects. We performed a retrospective chart review of 36 patients who received radiotherapy and underwent thyroid ultrasound. Forty-seven percent (n = 17) had ≥1 nodule(s) detected. Seven patients underwent thyroidectomy; four of whom were diagnosed with thyroid malignancy. Our study suggests routine use of thyroid ultrasound in high-risk patients detects subclinical thyroid nodules and potential thyroid malignancy post-radiotherapy.