The Impact of Contrast Media Used in Epidural Steroid Injections on Thyroid Function Tests

The objective of this study is to reveal the impact of contrast media, whether they change the values of TFTs in participants who had been performed any kind of epidural steroid injection such as Lumbar, cervical and caudal epidural steroid injection. The inclusion criteria were participants who had normal values of TFTs, being between the ages of 18 and 65 and had an epidural steroid injection. Patients with impaired parameters of TFTs or had thyroid surgery, systemic and/or local infections, malignancy, bleeding diathesis, acute fracture, known allergy to contrast material and/or local anesthetic substances, known history of any psychiatric disorder, and patients with a history of pregnancy were excluded from the study. Verbal and written informed consent was obtained from all patients participating in the study.

In conjunction with the recording of the demographic data of the patients participating in this study (age, sex, duration of symptoms, etc.), their contrast medium doses and the values of TFTs (free T3, free T4 and Thyroid-stimulating hormone) were employed before the procedure and 3rd week after the procedure.

Inclusion criteria

• Patients who will be performing with an epidural steroid injection
• Being between the ages of 18 and 65
• Having normal values of Thyroid function tests

Exclusion criteria

• Patients with a history of thyroid surgery or impaired thyroid function tests
• Patients with systemic and/or local infections,
• Malignancy,
• Bleeding diathesis,
• Acute fracture,
• Known allergy to contrast material and/or local anesthetic substances,
• Known history of any psychiatric disorder
• Patients with a history of pregnancy