Value of surveillance ultrasound following hemithyroidectomy

O'Brien, O., Hilmi, O., Wright, S. and McArthur, C. (2023) Value of surveillance ultrasound following hemithyroidectomy. Journal of Laryngology and Otology, (doi: 10.1017/S0022215123001056) (PMID:37309205) (Early Online Publication)

Abstract

Background: There is limited evidence or agreement on the benefit, duration and frequency of post-operative surveillance neck ultrasound (US) in patients with differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) treated with hemithyroidectomy alone. Our primary aim was to assess the benefit of neck US in this situation, with a secondary aim to assess the detection of malignancy in the contralateral lobe in patients undergoing completion surgery. Methods: Retrospective observational study involving patients who had DTC found at diagnostic hemithyroidectomy between 01/12/2013–31/12/2016. Results Of 105 patients, 74 underwent completion thyroidectomy. 35% of these had malignancy identified in the contralateral lobe, the majority unsuspected sonographically. Of 31 hemithyroidectomy patients, one had a U3 nodule at first US surveillance, ultimately incidental papillary microcarcinomas identified on completion thyroidectomy. No other disease recurrence/malignancy at median 3.8 years follow-up. Conclusion: Findings indicate a limited role for US follow-up of patients with DTC treated with hemithyroidectomy alone.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Early Online Publication
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Wright, Dr Sylvia and O'Brien, Dr Owen and Hilmi, Mr Omar and McArthur, Dr Claire
• Authors: O'Brien, O., Hilmi, O., Wright, S., and McArthur, C.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Cancer Sciences; College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Medicine, Dentistry & Nursing
• Journal Name: Journal of Laryngology and Otology
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• ISSN: 0022-2151
• ISSN (Online): 1748-5460
• Published Online: 13 June 2023
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © The Author(s), 2023
• First Published: First published in Journal of Laryngology and Otology 2023
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced in accordance with the publisher copyright policy