Short term quality of life related to voice and swallowing in patients undergoing ¹³¹i (iodine) for differentiated thyroid carcinoma

PURPOSE:to analyze the quality of life related to voice and swallowing before and after radioiodine therapy in the short term.METHODS:thyroidectomized individuals indicated for RAI underwent two questionnaires on quality of life related to voice and swallowing before and three months after radioiodine therapy.RESULTS:thirty-two patients, 84% female and 16% male, were studied with a mean age of 46 years. Histological type was classic papillary carcinoma (56%). The results indicated a tendency for better quality of life with respect to voice three months after radioiodine therapy. The protocol for quality of life related to swallowing also indicated better quality of life in the second assessment. Greater minimal limitation on the quality of life questionnaire in swallowing was observed.CONCLUSION:quality of life and voice and swallowing symptoms in the short term after radioiodine therapy is better compared to pretreatment. It is necessary to investigate other aspects such as metabolic, surgical and individual to define the real impact of radioiodine therapy on quality of life.