Postoperative thyroid hormone supplementation rates following thyroid lobectomy.

Area of Science:

• Endocrinology
• Surgical Oncology
• Thyroidology

Background:

• Thyroid lobectomy is a common procedure for various thyroid conditions, including benign nodules, indeterminate nodules, and low-risk differentiated thyroid cancer.
• Post-operative management often involves monitoring thyroid function and potentially thyroid hormone supplementation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify factors associated with achieving thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) over goal (TH) after thyroid lobectomy.
• To understand the predictors of requiring thyroid hormone therapy post-surgery.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective cohort study was conducted on 100 patients who underwent thyroid lobectomy between January 2016 and December 2017.
• Thyroid hormone therapy (TH) was defined as the need for thyroid hormone replacement according to established guidelines.
• Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were employed to determine significant factors.

Main Results:

• 47% of patients developed a need for thyroid hormone therapy (TH).
• TH was significantly more common in patients with cancer (73%) compared to benign pathology (38%).
• Factors associated with TH included higher preoperative TSH levels, presence of thyroiditis, and smaller remnant thyroid lobe volume adjusted for body surface area.

Conclusions:

• Thyroid hormone therapy (TH) following lobectomy is associated with preoperative TSH levels, thyroiditis, remnant thyroid volume, and malignancy.
• Most patients with a final diagnosis of thyroid carcinoma will necessitate thyroid hormone supplementation to meet TSH goals.