Piraneo S, Vitri P, Galimberti A, Guzzetti S, Salvaggio A, Bastagli A
Department of Surgery, L. Sacco Hospital, University of Milan, Italy.
Eur J Surg. 1994 Jun-Jul;160(6-7):351-6.
To try and resolve some of the problems associated with the treatment of goitre in euthyroid patients.
Retrospective open study
University hospital
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.
Recurrence of goitre, and correlation with type of operation, age, and histological type.
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.
Subtotal thyroidectomy is the treatment of choice for goitre in euthyroid patients.
