Postoperative thyroid stimulating hormone inhibition therapy in patients of differentiated thyroid carcinoma

Abstract

Objective To investigate the value of individualized thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) inhibition therapy in postoperative patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma.Methods The medical record and follow-up data of the 556 patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma after total or neartotal thyroidectomy were retrospectively reviewed.Patients were divided into two groups:Group A (304 cases) received TSH suppression therapy without risk assessment.Group B (252 cases) were given TSH suppression therapy in accord with risk assessment of both differentiated thyroid cancer recurrence risk stratification condition and the side effects of TSH suppression therapy risk stratification.Results The 3-year non-recurrence and (or) non-metastasis rate in group B was 99.2％ which was higher than 96.8％ in group A (P =0.044).The hospitalization rate caused by postoperative cardiovascular events or other morbidities in group B decreased 89％ than that in group A.Conclusions Individualized TSH suppression therapy can significantly decrease the recurrence and metastasis rate as well as concurrent morbidities caused by unnecessary TSH inhibition. Key words: Thyroid neoplasms; Thyrotropin; Recurrence; Risk assessment