Background: After thyroid lobectomy, many patients require ongoing care. This study sought to quantify the rates of surveillance and intervention after thyroid lobectomy.
Methods: One hundred one consecutive patients who underwent a thyroid lobectomy for nodular disease were evaluated. Clinical and follow-up data were obtained by a review of patient charts and included an evaluation of resource utilization related to thyroid disease.
Results: Nineteen patients required completion thyroidectomy for thyroid cancer, and 11 had hypothyroidism before lobectomy. Of the remaining evaluable patients, 30 (42.2%) of 71 required thyroid hormone replacement after lobectomy, with 24 patients having elevated thyroid-stimulating hormone and 6 suppression of nodules in the contralateral lobe. The likelihood of thyroid hormone replacement demonstrated a trend with a contralateral nodule (9 of 14 vs. 21 of 57, P = 0.06) and a significant association with thyroiditis on surgical pathology (10 of 11 vs. 20 of 60, P < 0.001). Of the 82 patients who did not undergo completion lobectomy, 10 (12%) of 82 underwent postoperative fine-needle aspiration of the contralateral lobe, and 25 (30%) of 82 were followed with ultrasound surveillance. Only 27% of patients treated with lobectomy required no further surveillance or intervention. There were no instances of permanent recurrent laryngeal nerve injury.
Conclusions: After thyroid lobectomy, most patients require continued surveillance and intervention. With a near-zero complication rate, total thyroidectomy may be a more effective and efficient option for management of nodular thyroid disease.