HYPOPARATHYROIDISM AFTER THE TREATMENT OF LARYNGOPHARYNGEAL CARCINOMA

Thirty patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the laryngopharynx wer e treated with surgery (total laryngectomy and hemithyroidectomy) and radiotherapy. Group 1 (n = 7) patients had surgery only; Group 2 (n = 7) had radiotherapy followed by salvage surgery while Group 3 (n = 16) had surgery followed by radiotherapy. Parathyroid hormone and calcium levels were measured pre- and post-operatively and post-radiotherapy. In Group 1 no patients were hypoparathyroid. In Group 2, 29 per cent of patients preoperatively and 57 per cent post-operatively, were hypo parathyroid. In Group 3, no patients were hypoparathyroid pre-operativ ely, while 25 per cent were hypoparathyroid post-operatively and post- radiotherapy. Parathyroid hormone and calcium levels were averaged and compared within and between each group. There was no significant diff erence within each group, wizen comparing levels postoperatively and p ost-radiotherapy from those of pre-operatively. There was no significa nt difference in levels between each of Groups 1, 2 or 3 (p>0.05).