Thyroidectomy-Related Dysphagia: A Systematic Literature Review

Area of Science:

• Otolaryngology
• Surgical Oncology
• Gastroenterology

Background:

• Dysphagia is a frequent post-thyroidectomy symptom, but its incidence, causes, and progression are not fully understood.
• Existing literature lacks comprehensive synthesis on swallowing disorders following thyroid surgery.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review and synthesize data on the occurrence and evolution of dysphagia after thyroidectomy.
• To analyze factors influencing dysphagia incidence and persistence post-thyroid surgery.

Main Methods:

• Systematic literature review following PRISMA guidelines.
• Searched PubMed, MEDLINE, and SciELO for studies on dysphagia and thyroidectomy.
• Included 31 studies with 64,123 patients, analyzing pre- and postoperative data.

Main Results:

• Preoperative dysphagia incidence averaged around 25%, with wide variations.
• Dysphagia peaked 1-2 weeks post-surgery, generally resolving by 3-6 months.
• Surgery extent, age, lymph node dissection, and adjuvant therapies correlated with persistent dysphagia.

Conclusions:

• Dysphagia post-thyroidectomy is common but typically transient, peaking early and improving within months.
• While most recover, some patients experience persistent symptoms impacting quality of life.
• Methodological inconsistencies necessitate standardized outcome measures and longer follow-up for robust conclusions.