[Recurrent nodular goiter. Characteristic features and surgical management]

Purpose of the study was to investigate the frequency of the thyroid carcinoma in the recurrent nodular goiter, to analyse the applied operative methods, the observed complications and the obtained early and distant postoperative results. For the period 1985-1996 in the Clinic of Endocrine Surgery were performed 588 reoperations by 577 patients with nodular recurrent goiter, distributed as following: 539 females, aged 14-81 and 49 males, aged 11-69. In 431 cases (73%) was applied medial approach and in 157 cases (27%)--lateral operative approach by the mobilizing of the thyroid recurrence. In the early postoperative period were established the following complications: clinical hypoparathyroidism in 10 patients (1.7%) with calcium level from 1.44-2.01 mmol/l and recurrent nerve paralysis in 28 patients (4.76%), including: in 13 cases unilateral paralysis on the right side, in 9 cases unilateral--on the left side and in 6 cases--bilateral paralysis. The established in 28 patients (4.76%) thyroid carcinoma and the appeared in 59 cases (10%) new recurrence of the basic thyroid disease supported our tactic for radical operative treatment in all patients with nodular recurrent goiter.