Constine et al. evaluated the endocrine function of 32 patients who had received radiation for brain tumors, including gliomas, medulloblastomas and ependymomas, from 2 to 13 years before, and found that 65% had low free T4 levels. The probability of hypothyroidism depended on the amount of radiation received. Moreover, the longer the interval since irradiation, the more likely a patient was to have developed hypothyroidism. Because the onset of hypothyroidism may occur years after the administration of the radiation, constant vigilance for signs and symptoms of hypothyroidism in this population is imperative and years monitoring of thyroid hormone levels obligatory.
PREGNANCY and FIBROMYALGIA
Dr. Kurland Norbert If you have fibromyalgia and are contemplating pregnancy, it’s natural to wonder what impact your illness will have on your ability to