Implantation of thyroid tissue after total thyroidectomy in quadriceps femoris muscle

Abstract

Background It appears to be relatively simple to control postoperative hypothyroidism after total thyroidectomy (TT) with L-T4 replacement therapy, but from the patient’s perspective, a daily reliance on L-T4 administration and regular follow-up visits to the hospital may become somewhat of a burden and may interfere with reaching euthyroid status utilizing replacement therapy because of patient noncompliance. Aim and objectives To evaluate implantation of thyroid tissue in the thigh muscle after TT for benign simple nodular goiter to avoid lifelong use of thyroid hormones as replacement therapy and preservation of autoregulatory mechanism of thyroid hormone production. Patients and methods From April 2021 to September 2022, with approval from the Ethics Committee of the Faculty of Medicine at Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt, 40 individuals with simple nodular goiter who required TT participated in a prospective case series study. Results There was significant relation between 12 months follow up thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels and preoperative TSH levels. There was significant relation between 12 months follow up free T4 levels and preoperative TSH levels. Conclusion When performed on individuals who have benign thyroid disorders, TT is followed by autotransplantation of the patient’s own thyroid tissue. This technique is safe, straightforward, and applicable, and it results in a postoperative euthyroid state in the vast majority of carefully selected individuals without the need for additional replacement therapy.