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Three‐Week Thyroxine Withdrawal: A Thyroid‐Specific Quality of Life Study
Author(s) -
Davids Taryn,
Witterick Ian J.,
Eski Spiro,
Walfish Paul G.,
Freeman Jeremy L.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
the laryngoscope
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.181
H-Index - 148
eISSN - 1531-4995
pISSN - 0023-852X
DOI - 10.1097/01.mlg.0000192172.61889.43
Subject(s) - medicine , thyroid , thyroid cancer , quality of life (healthcare) , nursing
Objectives/Hypothesis: The purpose of this study is to determine the impact of a 3‐week T4 withdrawal test on the quality of life (QOL) of patients undergoing investigation for residual/recurrent well‐differentiated thyroid cancer. Study Design: Prospective survey study. Methods: 181 patients with well‐differentiated thyroid cancer were surveyed using a thyroid‐specific QOL‐thyroid survey at three times throughout the study: prior to T4 withdrawal, after the 3‐week withdrawal period, and 4 weeks after resuming T3/T4 combination therapy. Results: A very small, though statistically significant, reduction was observed in the four domains of QOL defined by the QOL‐thyroid survey from baseline values to 3 weeks after T4 withdrawal. The maximal difference was 2.04 (fatigue), out of a possible 10 point score, in the physical well‐being category. Conclusions: The thyroid‐specific QOL questionnaire demonstrates a statistically significant though very small and probably not clinically significant reduction in the QOL of thyroid cancer patients undergoing an induced 3‐week hypothyroid state. Three‐week T4 withdrawal is a simple, cost‐effective, and readily available test.