Fifty-two patients with DTC, 45 females (86.5%) and 7 males (13.5%) with a mean age of 44.21 ± 13.3 years (r = 17–74) who received ablation therapy with 131I after total thyroidectomy. Patients with diseases and/or medication causing xerostomia were excluded. Patients underwent salivary gland scintigraphy with 99Tc (10 mCi).
Eighteen patients (34.62%) had SD and received antibiotics, antispasmodics, and oral steroids for 15 days. They were divided into two groups: responders to medical therapy (n = 12, age 44.3 ± 14.4 years, 2 men [17%], 10 women [83%], cumulative dose 225 ± 167.1 mCi) and non-responders to medical treatment, who underwent steroid instillation into the Stensen's duct (n = 6 [33%], 2 men [33%], 4 women [67%], age 50 ± 13.8 years, cumulative dose 138.3 ± 61.7 mCi). Scintigraphy showed damage to the parotid and submaxillary glands.
Incidence of 131I-induced sialadenitis was similar to that reported by other authors. Age, mean cumulative dose of 131I, and involvement of parotid and submaxillary glands did not condition response to CMT; however, male sex was a conditioning factor. Symptom persistence for more than 15 days makes instillation into the Stensen's duct advisable. This is an effective and safe method to avoid surgical excision of salivary glands.