effect of levothyroxine therapy on the recurrence rate of goiter after subtotal thyroidectomy in iodine deficient area

One hundred and two patients with subtotal thyroidectomy performed for benign thyromegaly were studied in Fars province, an area of iodine deficiency in southern of Iran. Group A, 40 patients who received levothyroxine 100mg per day postoperatively. Group B, 62 patients who did not receive levothyroxine. The recurrence rates were 5% and 47% in groups A and B respectively. The recurrence rate was higher in patients with multinodular goiter and diffuse thyromegaly than those with a single nodule. This study indicates that in iodine deficient areas, the patients should receive levothyroxine post-operatively for prevention of recurrence until iodine supplementation is available for the whole population