Factors affecting need for hormone replacement after thyroid lobectomy

Abstract

Aims: The aim of this study is to determine the incidence and risk factors of postoperative hormone replacement in patients who underwent thyroid lobectomy. Methods: Patients who underwent thyroid lobectomy in our clinic between January 2015 and January 2021 were retrospectively scanned. Age, gender, preoperative hemogram and thyroid function tests (TFT) were screened. During postoperative follow-up, current TFT, height, weight, thyroid hormone replacement status and hypothyroidism symptoms were questioned. Pathology reports were examined. Results: The pathology (patological examination results of specimen of the patients) were nodular hyperplasia in 81.1% (n=30) and Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) in 18.9% (n=7). While the need for hormone replacement developed in 37.8% (n=14) of the patients in the postoperative follow-up, it did not develop in 62.2% (n=23). It was determined that high preoperative thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) significantly increased the need for postoperative hormone replacement (p<0.05). In addition, it was found that the need for hormone replacement increased significantly in patients whose pathology results were compatible with malignancy (p<0.05). Conclusion: Malignancy and preoperative high TSH are important predictors of postoperative levothyroxine need.

Keywords

• Thyroid lobectomy
• hormone replacement
• levothyroxine
• risk factors

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