Hypothyroidism following partial thyroidectomy.
OBJECTIVE
To compare rates of hypothyroidism following three types of partial thyroidectomy for multinodular goiter.


METHODS
All cases of partial thyroidectomies (hemi-, near-total, or subtotal) carried out at one Israeli and one Russian medical center (1990-2006) were retrospectively studied to determine the incidence of hypothyroidism after each procedure.


RESULTS
There were 881 near-total, 1538 subtotal, and 1051 hemithyroidectomies (total 3470). Postoperative follow-up was 2 to 15 years. Twenty-eight percent of the hemithyroidectomy patients suffered permanent hypothyroidism compared to 100% of the near-total and 87% of the subtotal patients. Forty-six percent of the hemithyroidectomy patients suffered temporary hypothyroidism compared to 100% of the near-total and 93% of the subtotal patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Subtotal and near-total thyroidectomies produced a rate of hypothyroidism close to that of total thyroidectomy compared to 28% after hemithyroidectomy.


CONCLUSIONS
Partial thyroidectomies provide no decisive advantage over total thyroidectomies in terms of subsequent requirements of supplemental hormone therapy.
Vaiman
Michael
M
Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Assaf Harofeh Medical Center, affiliated to the Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Israel. vaimed@yahoo.com
Nagibin
Andrey
A
Hagag
Philippe
P
Kessler
Alex
A
Gavriel
Haim
H
D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006044:Goiter, Nodular / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007037:Hypothyroidism / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D015994:Incidence; D007557:Israel / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012426:Russia / Q000453:epidemiology; D013965:Thyroidectomy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016896:Treatment Outcome