Thyroid function after subtotal thyroidectomy for hyperthyroidism.

Authors:
  • DED Evered
    D Evered
  • EYE T Young
    E T Young
  • WTW M Tunbridge
    W M Tunbridge
  • BOB J Ormston
    B J Ormston
  • EGE Green
    E Green
  • VPV B Petersen
    V B Petersen
  • PDP H Dickinson
    P H Dickinson
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Abstract
Among 76 patients who had had a subtotal thyroidectomy for hyperthyroidism from one to seven years previously recurrent hyperthyroidism was found in three and hypothyroidism in 13. The remaining 60 subjects were clinically euthyroid but a raised level of serum thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH; greater than 5-0 mu U/ml) was found in 39. Analysis of the data showed that their serum thyroxine was significantly lower than in the subjects with a normal TSH. The serum triiodothyronine (T-3) was similar in both groups. It is concluded that subjects with a raised TSH remain clinically euthyroid by maintaining a normal serum T-3 concentration. There was no evidence of any long-term progressive deterioration of thyroid function after subtotal thyroidectomy.