Time to Hypothyroidism Following Hemithyroidectomy

Background The time to hypothyroidism post hemithyroidectomy is variable. There are multiple risk factors for developing hypothyroidism. The aim of this study was to identify the time of hypothyroidism and other predictors of hypothyroidism in euthyroid patients following hemithyroidectomy. Methods This was a retrospective study. Of 170 euthyroid patients who underwent hemithyroidectomy for benign disease between 2006 - 2014, age, gender, pre-operative thyroid function tests, body mass index (BMI), and other co-morbidities were examined to determine predictors of early (<3 months) or late (>3 months) hypothyroidism. A high normal preoperative thyroid stimulating hormone (HN-TSH) was deﬁned as ≥2.01 uIU/ml, and a low normal TSH (LN-TSH) was deﬁned as <2.01 uIU/ml.