[TSH state after thyroid hormone deprivation in athyrotic thyroid cancer patients (author's transl)]

The duration of thyroid hormone deprivation necessary on the one hand to achieve a sufficiently high endogenous TSH level for the identification of 131I-storing metastases or local relapses, and on the other hand to keep the consequences of thyroid hormone deprivation as low as possible, was determined in 111 athyrotic patients with thyroid carcinoma by means of the basal TSH level or a TRH stimulation test. From the first follow-up examination, a T3 deprivation of 8 days is to be recommended. Low basal TSH levels and marked stimulation in the TRH test should be sufficient cause to prolong the T3 deprivation to 10 days with further examinations. After a longterm suppression of athyrotic patients with thyroid hormone, a decrease in the TSH rise was observed in the course of 2 years, after appropriate interruption of the substitution.