Acute effects of radioiodine therapy on the voice and larynx of Basedow-Graves patients

Summary Graves's disease is the most common cause of hyperthyroidism. There are three current therapeutic options: anti-thyroid medication, surgery, and radioactive iodine (I 131). There are few data in the literature regarding the effects of radioiodine therapy on the larynx and voice. The aim and the Aim os this study was: to assess the effect of radioiodine therapy on the voice of Basedow-Graves patients. Material and Method A prospective study was done. Following the diagnosis of Grave's disease, patients underwent investigation of their voice, measurement of maximum phonatory time (/a/) and the s/z ratio, fundamental frequency analysis (Praat software), laringoscopy and (perceptive-auditory) analysis in three different conditions: pre-treatment, 4 days, and 20 days post-radioiodine therapy. Conditions are based on the inflammatory pattern of thyroid tissue (Jones et al. 1999). Results No statistically significant differences were found in voice characteristics in these three conditions. Conclusion Radioiodine therapy does not affect voice quality.