[Basedow's disease: recurrence after surgical treatment. Study of a series of 88 patients]

A homogeneous series of 88 patients with a history of surgery for Basedow's disease was studied retrospectively to evaluate long term recurrences. A total of 88 cases were reviewed after a follow up of a median of 50 months (range 1 to 13 years), and hormone assays were carried out in 74 cases. Surgical complications were minor: no mortality, no definitive hypoparathyroidism, 45% unilateral recurrent nerve palsies and 14.3% definitive hypothyroidism occurring during the first year. Fifteen patients had one or several recurrences of hyperthyroidism. The actuarial recurrence rate at 5 years was 17%, the risk increasing progressively up to the sixth year. The type of operation was the only predictive factor of recurrence surveillance of these patients should be prolonged and involve regular hormone assays, since 6 of the 15 recurrences were poorly symptomatic.