Altered taste after I-131 therapy: The frequency, time of onset, severity, and duration

1920 Objectives The objective of this study was to characterize the frequency (F), time of onset (TOS), severity (S), and duration (D) of altered taste (AT) after 131I therapy (tx) in patients (pts) with differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC). Methods A prospective IRB-approved survey was performed at MedStar Wash Hosp Ctr between Sept 2012-Oct 2013 with the following inclusion criteria: (1)>18 y.o. (2)DTC, (3)131I tx. Pts with a prior 131I tx were excluded. Multiple demographics were obtained. F, TOS, S, and D were assessed from the time of 131I tx Day 0 (D0) to post-tx scan with surveys performed on D0 and on the day of the post-tx scan (Day 5 to Day 10). McNemar9s test was used to compare pre-tx and post-tx responses. Results AT was experienced on treatment D0 in 23%(18/78) and was experienced during the 1-10 day post-tx period in 44%(34/78). The F of TOS of the 34 pts that reported AT was 44%(15) on D1; 26%(9) on D2; 15%(5) on D3; 6%(2) on D4; and 3%(1) on D5; 0%(0) on D6; 6%(2) on D7, & 0%(0) for D8 to D10. On D0, the S of AT was categorized as Grade (Gr)1-2 in 22%(4/18); Gr3-4 in 28%(5/18); Gr5-6 in 22%(4/18); Gr7-8 in 6%(1/18); and Gr9-10 in 22%(4/18). Of 18 pts responding as having AT on D0, the D was 0- 24 hrs in 66%(12). The same data are presented regarding S&D during the 1-10 post-tx period. Based on McNemar’s test, the F of reported AT after 131I tx vs within 30 days prior to 131I tx was statistically significant ( Conclusions Altered taste may occur on the day of 131I tx in as many as 23% of pts and during the 1-10 post-tx period in as many as 44% of pts. The frequency of reported AT after 131I tx vs within 30 days prior to 131I tx was statistically significant ( Research Support Biostatistical support for this project has been funded in whole or in part with Federal funds (Grant # UL1RR031975) from the National Center for Research Resources (NCRR), National Institutes of Health (NIH), through the Clinical and Translational Science Awards Program (CTSA), a trademark of DHHS, part of the Roadmap Initiative, “Re-Engineering the Clinical Research Enterprise.