Biography
Biography: Amalan Karthigeyan
Abstract
Radioactive iodine is widely used in the treatment of thyroid cancer. However like any treatment it does have side effects. It has demonstrated effects on the hematopoietic system by an increase in early apoptosis and hence decreases the levels of peripheral blood lymphocytes. The erythroid lineage is also affected but to a lesser extent. Studies have also shown an increased incidence of salivary gland damage from radioactive iodine therapy by mild narrowing of the Stensen’s duct demonstrated by sialography. CT imaging also demonstrated mild hyper-density of the parotid gland but this was not diagnostic of permanent damage. As well as effects on the salivary glands, another study demonstrated nasolacrimal duct obstruction. One publication in 2007 stated that there was an increased incidence of dental caries in patients who received radioactive iodine. There has also been an increase in cases of severe hyponatraemia in patients who received radioactive iodine.