Are We Missing Salivary-Gland Dysfunction Years After a Single 131I Treatment for Thyroid Cancer?

Results Papillary thyroid cancer was present in 96% of the mainly female patients. In the majority of patients, the results for all four salivary glands were available. After 5 years, 35 patients (16%) reported a dry mouth. Symptoms of a dry mouth were more frequent with higher RAI doses (5.55 GBq, 18%; 3.7 GBq, 7.8%). The SGS before RAI was normal in 88% of 852 salivary glands. In the remaining glands, the uptake was slightly reduced but never undetectable (score, 3). Five years after 131I treatment salivary-gland uptake was normal in 73.8% of patients (score, 0), slightly reduced in 7.9%, and moderately reduced in 6.7% of patients; no uptake was found in 11.6% (score, 3). A single salivary gland was affected in 78.6%, two glands in 49.5%, three glands in 6.9% and four glands in 8% of patients.