Salivary Gland Function 5 Years After Radioactive Iodine Ablation in Patients with Differentiated Thyroid Cancer: Direct Comparison of Pre- and Postablation Scintigraphies and Their Relation to Xerostomia Symptoms

Abstract

About 20% of the salivary glands were dysfunctional on SGS 5 years after a single RAI ablation, especially in patients who received higher doses of RAI. While parotid glands are more susceptible to (131)I-related damage, xerostomia was more associated with submandibular gland dysfunction and the prevalence of dysfunctional salivary glands.