radioiodine therapy effects on salivary gland function in patients with differentiated thyroid cancer [persian]

salivary gland involvement is one of the radioiodine therapy complications. salivary gland scintigraphy in quantitative mode can accurately evaluate salivary gland function. methods: salivary gland scintigraphy was performed with tc-99m pertechnetate, at the time of iodine therapy as a basic study and then 3 weeks and 3 months afterwards. ejection fraction (ef) of parotid and submandibular glands was obtained at each stage of the study. results: 36 patients (10 male, 16 female) were studied. mean of ef 3 weeks and 3 months following radioiodine therapy was reduced. there was no significant involvement in 12 patients (33.3%). with increase in radioiodine dose, more salivary gland involvement was noted in 3 weeks (p=0.07), but not after 3 months (p=0.5). no difference was noted between two sexes (p=0.6). parotid gland involvement was more than submandibular gland (p