头颈部肿瘤放疗对甲状腺功能的损伤

头颈部肿瘤放疗后会引起不同程度的甲状腺功能减退.引起甲状腺功能减退的机制包括射线对甲状腺及垂体细胞的直接损伤、对相关血管的损伤以及自身免疫反应等.影响头颈部肿瘤放疗后甲状腺功能的因素主要有:放疗剂量、放疗技术、是否联合手术化疗等.通过对这些影响因素的研究可为防治甲状腺功能减退提供依据,从而提高患者生活质量.

Thyroid dysfunction after radiotherapy in patients with head and neck cancer

Thyroid dysfunction, referred as hypothyroidism, is one of the sequelaes in head and neck cancer patients treated by radiotherapy. The mechanisms of hypothyroidism induced by radiotherapy include direct damage of the thyroid and/or pituitary cells, involved blood vessels damage, as well as autoimmune response. Factors related to postirradiation thyroid dysfunction are diverse, including radiation dose, technique, whether or not in combination with surgery and/or chemotherapy. In addition, age, sex and race may also contrib-ute as impact factors. Further investigation of these factors can provide for prevention and treatment of hypothyroidism, and improve patients life quality.