L-thyroxine treatment of diffuse non-toxic goitre evaluated by ultrasonic determination of thyroid volume

The effect of a daily dose of 150 micrograms l-thyroxine for one year was studied in forty-five patients with diffuse non-toxic goitre. Thyroid volume was evaluated by ultrasonic scanning. A decrease in the median value of the thyroid volume of about 20% was found after 3 months of therapy and no further change in the median value was observed in the following 9 months of treatment. About 50% of the patients showed a response to therapy and about 30% obtained normal size of the thyroid gland. Median value of the thyroid volume returned to pretreatment value 3 months after thyroxine therapy was stopped. A considerable increase in serum T4 and free T4 index was noted after 3 months of therapy and these elevated values persisted unaltered during the following 9 months of treatment. Serum T3 was studied before and after 3 months of thyroxine therapy in eleven of the patients. A small and insignificant increase in serum T3 and free T3 index was observed.