[Function of the pituitary-thyroid axis after partial resection of the thyroid]

The TSH, T4 and T3 responses to TRH were measured in 48 patients who underwent selective goitre resection (hemithyroidectomy, ablation of single nodule); moreover 3 groups of healthy, hypothyroid and hyperthyroid persons served as reference groups. The main object was to detect eventual onset of preclinical hypothyroidism. This condition was observed after hemithyroidectomy only in 12.5%, and never after ablation of single nodule. Were detected too, among operated patients, 2 subjects with light and 1 with clear hyperthyroidism. Therapeutic implications of such a finding were taken into consideration.