Original Article


Usefulness of 1-year of thyroid stimulating hormone suppression on additional levothyroxine in patients who underwent hemithyroidectomy with papillary thyroid microcarcinoma

Jin Gu Kang, Young Ah Kim, Jung Eun Choi, Soo Jung Lee, Su Hwan Kang

Abstract

Background: The purpose of this study was to identify usefulness of 1-year of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) suppression, on additional levothyroxine in patients who underwent hemithyroidectomy with papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC).
Methods: Two-hundred consecutive patients who had received hemithyroidectomy February 2011 to March 2013, were enrolled, retrospectively. Group 1, only, was taking levothyroxine for a year, postoperatively. We evaluated postoperative hypothyroidism through serum TSH level, measured periodically.
Results: Postoperative TSH >10 was significantly different, at 13% and 25%, between two groups (P=0.036). Twenty patients in group 1, and 32 patients in group 2, received additional levothyroxine. Multivariate analysis showed that 1-year suppression, clinical thyroiditis, and preoperative TSH >2, were significantly associated with additional levothyroxine (OR 2.17, P=0.025 and OR 2.00, P=0.046 and OR 2.64, P=0.006). Too, 1-year TSH suppression, preoperative TSH >2, were also significantly associated with postoperative TSH >10 (OR 2.55, P=0.022 and OR 2.22, P=0.048).
Conclusions: We suggest 1-year TSH suppression after hemithyroidectomy, for PTMC in patients with preoperative TSH >2 mU/L and clinical thyroiditis, to reduce additional levothyroxine.

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