[A diminishing number of thyroid operations in The Netherlands in 1972-1986]

The numbers of thyroidectomies in The Netherlands decreased by 35% in the period 1972-1986. The decline started in 1977 and was the result of a decrease in the numbers of thyroidectomies for nontoxic diffuse and nodular goitre, and for toxic diffuse and nodular goitre. The numbers of thyroidectomies for malignant and benign thyroid neoplasms remained unchanged. These findings can be explained by a decrease of the indication for surgery in nontoxic nodular goitre due to the introduction of fine needle aspiration cytology and an increase of the application of radioactive iodine in the treatment of toxic diffuse and nodular goitre. The decrease of the number of thyroidectomies for nontoxic goitre in the younger age groups is suggestive of a lower prevalence due to the improvement of the iodine supplementation. The mean hospital stay for thyroidectomy decreased from 19.5 to 10.1 days. The hospital mortality rate after partial thyroidectomies decreased from 6.6% to 0.9%.