Ethnic differences in patients undergoing thyroidectomy for non-toxic multinodular goitre

Māori have an increased incidence of thyrotoxicosis when compvared to non-Māori, however there are limited data on benign non-toxic nodular thyroid disease.

The aims of this study were to determine the rates of non-toxic multinodular goitre (NTMNG) surgery for Māori and non-Māori and to determine if there were differences in thyroid size between Māori and non-Māori undergoing total thyroidectomy for NTMNG.

Single centre study of patients undergoing thyroidectomy for NTMNG from 1 December 2006 to 30 November 2016.

Māori were overrepresented amongst the 427 patients who underwent surgery for NTMNG at 34% compared to the expected ~17% of the background Māori adult population in the region. At the time of surgery, Māori were younger (P = 0.004) and had a larger thyroid gland (P < 0.001) when compared to non-Maori also undergoing total/near total thyroidectomy. Complication rates were low across all ethnic groups.

Māori have increased rates of surgery for NTMNG compared to non-Māori and thyroid size is larger at the time of surgery. The reasons for this are currently unknown and more research is required.