Thyroid function in children and adolescents after combined therapy of Hodgkin disease

<p>Thyroid diseases, especially hypothyroidism, are among the most frequent endocrine complications in patients with Hodgkin lymphoma who<br />have received neck irradiation. Thyroid function was evaluated in 34 patients (11 males and 23 females) after combined chemo radiotherapy<br />of Hodgkin lymphoma according to modified DAL-HD-90M and GPOH-HD-2002 protocols. The median age was 15.9 years (range 5–18 years), the median time from the end of therapy was 1.08 years (range 1 month–4.9 years). 33 patients received radiotherapy to the neck region: 12 children — 20 Gy, 9 — 25 Gy, 10 — 30 Gy, 2 — 35 Gy. These patients were investigated by clinical examination, thyroid ultrasound and thyroid function tests. Thyroid abnormalities were detected in 4 of 21 patients who received 20–25 Gy (1 case of autoimmune thyroiditis and 3 cases of subclinical hypothyroidism) and in 3 of 12 patients who received 30–35 Gy (2 cases of autoimmune thyroiditis and 1 case of subclinical hypothyroidism). Autoimmune thyroiditis also developed in patient who received only 35 Gy mediastinum irradiation. Age, sex, follow-up time, irradiation dose were not significant factors in the thyroid dysfunction development. Thyroid examination must be obligatory part of the follow-up examination of patients with Hodgkin lymphoma.