High long term recurrence rate after subtotal thyroidectomy for nodular goitre.

OBJECTIVE

To establish the long term recurrence rate in patients operated on for nodular goitre and to find out if oral treatment with thyroxine reduces this risk.

DESIGN

Retrospective study.

SETTING

District hospital, Sweden.

SUBJECTS

43 patients who underwent subtotal thyroidectomy for nodular goitre (36 non-toxic, 7 toxic) from 1960-65, and who were re-examined in 1993; 11 patients were given oral thyroxine during the postoperative period and the remaining 32 had no medical treatment.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Recurrence of goitre.

RESULTS

5/11 goitres recurred in the thyroxine group (45%) and 13/32 (41%) in the untreated group.

CONCLUSION

The recurrence rate of nodular goitre is high 30 years after subtotal thyroidectomy. Long term oral thyroxine does not seem to change the picture.