The prognostic value of serum thyroid‐stimulating hormone level post‐lobectomy in low‐ and intermediate‐risk papillary thyroid carcinoma

BACKGROUND: This study was undertaken to determine the optimal thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) value associated with structural recurrence in patients with low-risk or intermediate-risk papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) who underwent thyroid lobectomy. METHODS: Patients with PTC (n = 1047) who received thyroid lobectomy and central compartment node dissection were included in the study. RESULTS: Structural recurrence occurred in 42 of the patients (4.0%), and no patient died of PTC. Multivariate analysis showed a primary tumor size (with a cut-off of 0.85 cm) and serum TSH level measured 1 year after the initial surgery (cut-off 1.85 mU/L) independently predicted structural recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: TSH levels during the early postoperative period need to be monitored and maintained in the lower normal range even in patients with low- or intermediate-risk PTC undergoing thyroid lobectomy.