Effect of desuppression on nodular thyroid disease.

Objective: To ascertain the clinical effect of discontinuation of thyroxine (T4) suppression therapy in patients with solitary thyroid nodules or multinodular goiters (MNGs).

Methods: After long-term T4 suppression therapy was discontinued (desuppression) in 63 patients (45 with solitary or dominant nodules and 18 with MNGs), we conducted a prospective follow-up for a mean of 18 months in an effort to detect any thyroid-related changes.

Results: A dominant nodule developed in 4 of 18 patients with MNGs.