HYPOTHYROIDISM DURING ONCOLOGY PROTOCOLS: A REPORT ON THREE CASES

Introduction:Hypothyroidism is commonly associated with different types of chemotherapy and immunotherapy. However, it remains largely unexplored, untreated, and is often neglected. We have reported 3 cases in order to highlight this endocrine consequence

Cases Report: The first two cases we reported were carriers of autoimmune thyroiditis with radio-biological confimation responsible for hypothyroidism. The first of them was followed up for colorectal carcinoma under chemotherapy with 5Fluorouracil based molecules and platinum drugs, the second case for metastatic pulmonary adenocarcinoma under immuno-chemotherapy: bevacizumab, paclitaxel and carboplatin. However, the last patient presented with hypothyroidism due to thyroid atrophy with negative immunological work-up, and was being treated for cavitary neoplasia with cisplatin and doxorubicin.

Discussion and Conclusion:Cytotoxic effects of chemotherapy due to ribonucleic/desocyrubonucleic alteration, followed by cell apoptosis concerns tumour tissue, but also rapidly metabolising tissues such as the endocrine glands, and particularly thyroid cells, causing thyroid atrophy. In the other hand, immunomodulatory effects are responsible for thyroiditis. While immunotherapies involve cytotoxicity of T lymphocytes, classically resulting in hypothyroidism sometimes preceded by thyrotoxicosis, leading in all cases to induced hypothyroidism.