A study on the early detection of radioiodine-associated salivary gland inflammation.

A frequent side effect of radioiodine therapy for thyroid carcinoma is chronic sialadenitis - the persistent inflammation of the salivary glands. This results in xerostomia, the subjective feeling of dry mouth. Reduction in saliva flow can severely impair oral health and, in particular, affect teeth, taste and speech. In most cases, the damage to the salivary gland tissue is only detected at a late stage, at which point there are hardly any therapeutic options. Early detection of radioiodine-induced sialadenitis could be of considerable benefit to patients, as it allows early therapeutic intervention. The aim of the present study is to review a set of examinations that could be used for future early detection of radioiodine-induced sialadenitis. This set takes only two additional minutes during the usual routine examination and consists of a sialometry (= salivary flow measurement), a short questionnaire and an ultrasound examination of the salivary glands.