Risk factors of hypothyroidism after hemithyroidectomy

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Published Feb 15, 2026
https://doi.org/10.62438/tunismed.v103i12.5738
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Vol. 103 No. 12 (2025): Tunis Med Dec 2025

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Lina Jeridi
Otorhinolaryngology Head Neck department, Habib Thameur Hospital, Tunis, Faculty of Medicine of Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar, Tunisia
Emna Rejeb
Otorhinolaryngology Head Neck department, Habib Thameur Hospital, Tunis, Faculty of Medicine of Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar, Tunisia
Nadia Romdhane
Otorhinolaryngology Head Neck department, Habib Thameur Hospital, Tunis, Faculty of Medicine of Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar, Tunisia
Imen Zoghlemi
Otorhinolaryngology Head Neck department, Habib Thameur Hospital, Tunis, Faculty of Medicine of Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar, Tunisia
Safa Nefzaoui
Otorhinolaryngology Head Neck department, Habib Thameur Hospital, Tunis, Faculty of Medicine of Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar, Tunisia
Ines Hriga
Otorhinolaryngology Head Neck department, Habib Thameur Hospital, Tunis, Faculty of Medicine of Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar, Tunisia
Chiraz Mbarek
Otorhinolaryngology Head Neck department, Habib Thameur Hospital, Tunis, Faculty of Medicine of Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar, Tunisia

Abstract

Introduction: Hemithyroidectomy has been increasingly applied in patients with thyroid diseases. Although patients are expected to maintain normal thyroid function after hemithyroidectomy, some patients may develop hypothyroidism, which requires thyroid-hormone substitution.


Our aim was to identify the risk factors of postoperative hypothyroidism after hemithyroidectomy.


Methods: We conducted a retrospective, analytical and descriptive study including all patients who underwent hemithyroidectomy between 2017 and 2022, with a minimum follow up of 12 months.


Hypothyroidism was defined as a postoperative serum thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) level higher than 5 mIU/L. Collected and analyzed data included age, sex, personal history of hyperthyroidism, family history of thyroid pathology, preoperative and postoperative TSH, nodule size, side and volume of resected and remaining lobesand definitive histological diagnosis.


Results: A total of 190 patients were included. Mean age of patients was 45.95 years [13;79]. The sex ratio (M/F) was 0.091. Of the 190 patients studied, 30 (15.79%) developed hypothyroidism after surgery. Among these patients 2 cases showed signs of clinical hypothyroidism such as constipation and asthenia. The mean duration of diagnosis after surgery was 3.75 months [1;12]. The personal history of hyperthyroidism, preoperative TSH greater than 1.9, remaining lobe volume less than 3.8 cm3 and the presence of lymphocytic thyroiditis on definitive pathological examination were associated with a significantly increased risk of hypothyroidism after Hemithyroidectomy (p< 0.01).


Conclusion: Preoperative TSH level greater than 1.9, remaining lobe volume less than 3.8 cm3 and the presence of lymphocytic thyroiditis on pathological examination justify postoperative TSH ...( abstract truncated at 250 words)

Keywords:

hemithyroidectomy, surgery , hypothyroidism , postoperative , incidence , risk factors

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