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Recurrence of goitre after operation in euthyroid patients
S Piraneo1, P Vitri, A Galimberti
1Department of Surgery, L. Sacco Hospital, University of Milan, Italy.
Objective:
To try and resolve some of the problems associated with the treatment of goitre in euthyroid patients.
Design:
Retrospective open study
Setting:
University hospital
Subjects:
106 out of a total of 161 euthyroid patients operated on for goitre from 1974-1988. Those who underwent total thyroidectomy (n = 14), in whom the histological diagnosis was thyroiditis (n = 10), or who were lost to follow up (n = 31) were excluded from the study.
Main Outcome Measures:
Recurrence of goitre, and correlation with type of operation, age, and histological type.
Results:
62 Patients underwent unilateral, and 44 bilateral resections. There were 24 recurrences (23%), 13 of which were subclinical; 19 occurred after unilateral, and 5 after bilateral, resections (p = 0.02). There were no significant associations between recurrence and age or histological type.
Conclusion:
Subtotal thyroidectomy is the treatment of choice for goitre in euthyroid patients.