Hemithyroidectomy for unilateral thyroid disease.
OBJECTIVE
To identify rates of recurrence and hypothyroidism after hemithyroidectomy for unilateral nodular thyroid diseases and its advantages over bilateral radical resections.


METHODS
Fifty patients who underwent thyroid lobectomy with unilateral thyroid disease were included. Follow-up with thyroid function tests on the first month and then once every three months, as well as ultrasonography controls once a year were performed postoperatively. Recurrence, which was accepted asat least one nodule with a diameter of 5 mm on the remnant lobe, and the need for postoperative thyroxin therapy were analysed, along with the relation of both with preoperative medical therapy, histological results, numbers and diameters of thyroid nodules, follow-up duration.


RESULTS
The incidence of recurrent disease after hemithyroidectomy was 12% after a mean follow-up time of 25.2 months (range, 10-43) while the incidence of clinical hypothyroidism which needs thyroxin therapy was 8%. Gender, age,substitutive and suppressive therapy before operation,histological evaluation, the presence of multiple nodules and diameter of nodules were predictive of neither recurrence nor post operative thyroxin therapy.


CONCLUSIONS
Hemithyroidectomy for unilateral thyroid disease has a moderate rate of recurrence, low rates of hypothyroidism and rare postoperative complications, with short hospital stay.
Z
Z
Ergul
M
M
Akinci
H
H
Kulacoglu
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007037:Hypothyroidism / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D013960:Thyroid Function Tests; D016606:Thyroid Nodule / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery*; D013965:Thyroidectomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013974:Thyroxine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology
D013974:Thyroxine