Quality of life after thyroid surgery in women with benign euthyroid goiter: influencing factors including Hashimoto's thyroiditis

BACKGROUND: Hashimoto's thyroiditis is associated with decreased quality of life (QoL). Thyroid surgery could hypothetically lead to an increase in QoL. METHODS: In a follow-up analysis of a prospective cohort study that included euthyroid women undergoing thyroid surgery for benign thyroid disease, 248 patients were willing to answer the SF-36 QoL questionnaire. RESULTS: At follow-up after a median of 26 months, only the SF-36 module of bodily pain'' had increased (P - .046). Preoperative anti-thyroid peroxidase antibody levels were positively correlated with increasing QoL in the SF-36 modules bodily pain'' (P < .001) and role emotional'' (P < .001). For the presence of histologically confirmed Hashimoto's thyroiditis, a significant positive correlation (P < .001) was found for all modules apart from physical functioning.'' CONCLUSIONS: In women with benign euthyroid goiter, thyroid surgery does not lead to an overall improvement in health-related QoL. It should not be recommended for patients with elevated anti-thyroid peroxidase antibody levels. Patients with histologically confirmed Hashimoto's thyroiditis might benefit in terms of QoL. (C) 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.