Predicting risk factors for hypothyroidism after definitive radiotherapy for early glottic carcinomas

Hypothyroidism may occur after definitive radiotherapy in rare cases of early glottic carcinoma. However, to the best of our knowledge, no study to date has examined the risk factors for hypothyroidism specifically after definitive radiotherapy in patients with early glottic carcinoma. The present study determined risk factors for hypothyroidism after definitive radiotherapy in patients with early glottic carcinoma. This was a retrospective study that included 73 patients with T1 or T2, N0 glottic squamous cell carcinoma who underwent radiotherapy between June 3, 2009 and December 25, 2020. Demographic and clinical characteristics, including age, sex, tumor stage and pretreatment thyroid volume, were examined to elucidate the clinical risk factors for hypothyroidism. Field size, total prescribed dose and thyroid receiving dose were evaluated as dosimetric risk factors for hypothyroidism. Irradiated underlying thyroid volumes of more than 5, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60 and 65 Gy (V5Gy, V10Gy, V20Gy, V30Gy, V40Gy, V50Gy, V60Gy and V65Gy) and mean thyroid dose were included as thyroid receiving doses. The median follow-up duration was 61 months (range, 7–150 months). Hypothyroidism was present in 15 (21%) of the 73 patients, including 12 and 3 patients with grade 1 and 2 hypothyroidism, respectively. Among the demographic and clinical factors, sex and pretreatment thyroid volume were significantly associated with hypothyroidism (P=0.007 and P<0.001, respectively). Among the dosimetric factors, the presence of hypothyroidism was significantly associated with V5Gy (P=0.012), V10Gy (P=0.015), V20Gy (P=0.020), V30Gy (P=0.024), V40Gy (P=0.028), V50Gy (P=0.028), V60Gy (P=0.027) and mean thyroid dose (P=0.023). In conclusion, sex, pretreatment thyroid volume and thyroid receiving dose were associated with hypothyroidism after definitive radiotherapy in patients with early glottic carcinoma. Particularly, the receiving dose to the thyroid gland should be reduced in female patients and in those with small thyroid volumes who are at higher risk for hypothyroidism following radiotherapy.