[Investigations of thyroid function in children and adolescents after treatment of Hodgkin's disease].

: Radiotherapy focused on the neck, upper mediastinum or cranium can raise the risk of thyroid dysfunction. The influence of radio- and chemotherapy on thyroid morphology and function after treatment of Hodgkin's disease in 31 children and acute lymphoblastic leucaemia in 36 children was evaluated. Clinical examination, estimation of blood TSH, FT4 levels as well as ultrasonographic scan were performed. In the group of children with Hodgkin s disease the blood level of ATG Antithyreoglobulins andMAB, microsmal antibodies were estimated. The results of clinical examination were normal in all patients. Thyroid function tests were also normal, except for one case with elevated TSH values (22.76 microIU/ml) and decreased FT4 values (0.65 ng/ml). Three patients (9.7%) with Hodgkin s disease and three (8.5%) with ALL (only one had cranial radiotherapy) had an abnormal image of thyroid in ultrasonography (hypoechogenicity, heterogenous ultrasound scan, solid nodule). The results of our investigations indicate that abnormalities found in the ultrasound scan in children and adolescents with Hodgkin's disease in whom treatment has been terminated, can be a first prodrome of thyroid pathology.