Assessment of thyroid gland hormones and ultrasonographic abnormalities in medical staff occupationally exposed to ionizing radiation

Abstract

Background Ionizing radiation (IR) is high-energy radiation that has the potential to displace electrons from atoms and break chemical bonds. It has the ability to introduce mutations, DNA strand breakage, and cell death. Being a radiosensitive organ, exposure of the thyroid gland to IR can lead to significant changes in its function. Aim of the work Was to measure the levels of thyroid hormones panel and ultrasonography abnormalities in medical staff occupationally exposed to IR. Subjects and methods A total of 120 subjects were divided into three main groups: Group I: radiation-exposed workers occupationally exposed to radioiodine (131I) (n = 40), Group II: radiation-exposed workers occupationally exposed to X-ray (n = 40), and Group III: non-exposed healthy professionals matched in age and sex with the previous groups (n = 40). Thyroid hormones panel including free triiodothyronine (fT3), free thyroxine (fT4), thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), anti-thyroperoxidase antibodies (anti-TPO), and thyroglobulin (Tg) were measured. Thyroid ultrasonography was performed. Oxidative stress markers such as malondialdehyde (MDA), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) were measured. Results Group I had significantly higher fT3 levels than the control group. fT3 levels were considerably higher, while TSH was substantially lower in group II participants than in the control group. Tg was markedly lower in radiation-exposed workers. However, anti-TPO levels in radiation-exposed workers were significantly higher than in the control group. MDA and H2O2 were substantially higher; TAC was significantly lower in radiation-exposed workers compared to the control group. According to ultrasonographic examination, thyroid volume and the percentage of thyroid nodules in all radiation workers were significantly higher than in the control group. Conclusion Despite low exposure doses, occupational exposure to IR affects the thyroid hormones and links with a higher likelihood of developing thyroid immune diseases.

Thyroid Ultrasonography Findings in Hospital Employees Exposed to Radiation: An Observational Descriptive Study

“…The rate of diffuse parenchymal disease in the group exposed to X-ray was found to be higher than in the control group. 16 While there are studies showing that the incidence of thyroid cancer increases in workers exposed to radiation, there are also cohort studies that concluded that this incidence did not increase however, no statistically significant difference was found between the departments studied. 15,17 In our study, while the rate of irregularity in the nodule borders increased with the working duration in both 1 st and 2 nd USG, no such relationship was found in other malignancy criteria.…”

Analysis of factors associated with abnormal thyroid function among medical staff in radiotherapy departments

“…The differences in study results may be due to differences in economic development, social environment, thyroid function measurement tools, and the participants included in different countries and regions. The literature search revealed that there are few studies on the factors associated with abnormal thyroid function in medical staff in radiotherapy departments, and most studies focus on physical and chemical indicators or functional changes in the thyroid gland but less on the influence of social, psychological, and behavioral factors on abnormal thyroid function ( 28 – 31 ).…”

“…The results of a cross-sectional survey based on the community population in Pomerania showed that occupational ionizing radiation exposure is related to the risk of autoimmune thyroid disease ( 37 ). The study found that medical staff did not take thyroid protection seriously during their prolonged professional practice and that staff who did not wear thyroid protection were frequently exposed to ionizing radiation, thus making the thyroid more vulnerable to radiation injury ( 31 ).…”

Advances in Antioxidant Applications for Combating 131I Side Effects in Thyroid Cancer Treatment

“…Additionally, excessive ROS interact with specific cellular targets to trigger a cascade reaction involving polyunsaturated fatty acid free radicals (lipid peroxidation) on the cell membranes, resulting in an increase in the malondialdehyde (MDA) (marker of lipid peroxidation) levels and a decrease in the CAT, SOD, and GSH activity, resulting in an imbalance between oxidants and antioxidants. The excessive depletion of endogenous antioxidants leads to a decrease in the total antioxidant status (TAS), which ultimately contributes to oxidative stress [ 70 , 72 , 73 ]. As a result, RAI in the remaining thyroid tissue may result in significant apoptosis and mitotic cell death [ 74 ].…”