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Does the radioactive iodine dose affect smell, taste sensation and nose function?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 January 2021

B Tutar ,
T Özülker ,
G Berkiten ,
S Karaketir ,
M E Ekincioğlu ,
Z Saltürk ,
Ö Onaran ,
B Gürpınar ,
Ş Karaketir  and
T L Kumral
...Show all authors
B Tutar*
Affiliation:
Department of Otorhinolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, Okmeydani Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey
T Özülker
Affiliation:
Department of Nuclear Medicine, Okmeydani Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey
G Berkiten
Affiliation:
Department of Otorhinolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, Okmeydani Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey
S Karaketir
Affiliation:
Department of Otorhinolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, Bulanık State Hospital, Muş, Turkey
M E Ekincioğlu
Affiliation:
Department of Otorhinolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, Başakşehir City Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey
Z Saltürk
Affiliation:
Department of Otorhinolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, Anadolu Health Center, Istanbul, Turkey
Ö Onaran
Affiliation:
Department of Otorhinolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, Okmeydani Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey
B Gürpınar
Affiliation:
Department of Otorhinolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, Okmeydani Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey
Ş Karaketir
Affiliation:
Department of Public Health, Malazgirt State Health Management, Muş, Turkey
T L Kumral
Affiliation:
Department of Otorhinolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, Okmeydani Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey
Y Uyar
Affiliation:
Department of Otorhinolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, Okmeydani Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey
*
Author for correspondence: Dr Belgin Tutar, Department of Otorhinolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, Okmeydani Training and Research Hospital, Darulaceze Cad. No: 25 Okmeydani – Sisli, Istanbul, Turkey E-mail: belgintutar@gmail.com
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Abstract

Objective

To detect whether the adverse effects of post-operative radioactive iodine therapy following differentiated thyroid cancer on smell, taste and nasal functions were associated with radioactive iodine dose.

Methods

Fifty-one patients who had undergone total thyroidectomy because of differentiated thyroid cancer were divided into two groups depending on the post-operative radioactive iodine therapy dose: low dose group (50 mCi; 21 patients) and high dose group (100–150 mCi; 30 patients). The Sniffin’ Sticks smell test, the Taste Strips test and the 22-item Sino-Nasal Outcome Test were performed on all patients one week before therapy, and at two months and one year following therapy.

Results

Statistically significant differences were detected in the Sniffin’ Sticks test results, total odour scores, total taste scores and Sino-Nasal Outcome Test results between the assessment time points. There was no statistically significant difference between the low and high dose groups in terms of odour, taste or Sino-Nasal Outcome Test scores either before or after therapy.

Conclusion

Radioactive iodine therapy has some short- and long-term adverse effects on nasal functions and taste and odour sensations, which affect quality of life. These effects are not dose-dependent.

Keywords

Radioactive IodineSmellTasteSNOT-22

Information

Type
Main Articles
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 135 , Issue 1 , January 2021 , pp. 50 - 56
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2021. Published by Cambridge University Press

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Footnotes

Dr B Tutar takes responsibility for the integrity of the content of the paper

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