Oncological impact of hypothyroidism and levothyroxine supplementation following hemithyroidectomy in patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma

BACKGROUND: We aimed to evaluate the oncological impact of hypothyroidism and levothyroxine (LT) supplementation after hemithyroidectomy in patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). METHODS: We retrospectively examined 401 patients who underwent hemithyroidectomy for classic PTC and who were postoperatively followed-up with >/=3 thyroid function measurements for >/=24 months. RESULTS: During 77.4 months of follow-up, 268/401 patients (66.8%) developed hypothyroidism and 19/401 patients (4.7%) showed recurrence. Recurrence rates did not differ between the euthyroidism and hypothyroidism development groups. Recurrence rates were significantly lower in the LT group than in the no-LT group, although mean postoperative thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels were not different between the two groups. Univariate and multivariate analysis showed that tumors sized >1 cm and lack of LT supplementation were significantly associated with recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: Postoperative hypothyroidism development was not a risk factor for PTC recurrence after hemithyroidectomy. Nevertheless, LT supplementation reduced recurrence risk without suppressing TSH.