Total Thyroidectomy for Management of Benign Thyroid Disease: Review of 526 Cases

Total thyroidectomy is not frequently performed in cases of benign disease because of the associated risk of postoperative hypoparathyroidism and recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) damage. We chose a series of patients who had undergone total thyroidectomy (TT) for benign thyroid tumors to evaluate the safety of this approach and its role in the treatment of nonmalignant lesions of the thyroid. We considered only patients with a minimum follow-up of 24 months. Records of 526 patients who underwent TT were carefully reviewed, assessing for perioperative complications and late sequelae. The mean age was 44 ± 15.7 years; 109 patients (20.7%) were male and 417 (79.3%) were female. Altogether, 65 patients (12.3%) were operated on for toxic goiter, 429 (81.6%) for bilateral nodular goiter, and 32 (6.1%) for thyroiditis. Postoperative hemorrhage requiring reoperation occurred in 8 cases (1.5%). The incidences of permanent RLN palsy (considered as a percentage of the nerves at risk) and permanent hypocalcemia were 0.4% and 3.4%, respectively. A trend toward a decrease in the complication rate was observed during the last 5 years. There were no disease recurrences during a mean follow-up of 44 months. The results of our series show that TT can be performed safely in patients, with a low incidence of lifetime disabilities. TT has the advantage of reducing/avoiding the risk of disease recurrence and reoperation and should therefore be considered a valuable option for treating benign thyroid diseases.     

Total thyroidectomy for management of benign thyroid disease: review of 526 cases

Total thyroidectomy is not frequently performed in cases of benign disease because of the associated risk of postoperative hypoparathyroidism and recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) damage. We chose a series of patients who had undergone total thyroidectomy (TT) for benign thyroid tumors to evaluate the safety of this approach and its role in the treatment of nonmalignant lesions of the thyroid. We considered only patients with a minimum follow-up of 24 months. Records of 526 patients who underwent TT were carefully reviewed, assessing for perioperative complications and late sequelae. The mean age was 44 +/- 15.7 years; 109 patients (20.7%) were male and 417 (79.3%) were female. Altogether, 65 patients (12.3%) were operated on for toxic goiter, 429 (81.6%) for bilateral nodular goiter, and 32 (6.1%) for thyroiditis. Postoperative hemorrhage requiring reoperation occurred in 8 cases (1.5%). The incidences of permanent RLN palsy (considered as a percentage of the nerves at risk) and permanent hypocalcemia were 0.4% and 3.4%, respectively. A trend toward a decrease in the complication rate was observed during the last 5 years. There were no disease recurrences during a mean follow-up of 44 months. The results of our series show that TT can be performed safely in patients, with a low incidence of lifetime disabilities. TT has the advantage of reducing/avoiding the risk of disease recurrence and reoperation and should therefore be considered a valuable option for treating benign thyroid diseases.     

Total thyroidectomy. The preferred option for multinodular goiter.

Total thyroidectomy is an operation that has generally been reserved for the management of differentiated thyroid carcinoma. Over the last decade total thyroidectomy has become used increasingly and is now the preferred option in the authors' unit for the management of multinodular goiter affecting the entire gland. Over the period from 1975 to 1985, 853 thyroidectomies have been performed for multinodular goiter; of these, 115 have been total thyroidectomies. During that time, the incidence of total thyroidectomy for multinodular goiter has increased in percentage terms from 9% in 1975 to 50% in 1985. There have been two cases of permanent hypoparathyroidism and one case of permanent recurrent laryngeal nerve injury, and these occurred in patients who had less than total thyroidectomy. Total thyroidectomy is an appropriate operation for the management of diffuse multinodular goiter where the entire gland is involved because it precludes patients from requiring further surgery for recurrent disease, with its high associated risks. It must be emphasized, however, that protection of the recurrent laryngeal nerve and parathyroid glands must still be paramount in dealing with benign thyroid disease.     

Is Total Thyroidectomy the Surgical Procedure of Choice for Benign Multinodular Goiter? An Evidence-Based Review

BACKGROUND: Benign multinodular goiter is one of the most common endocrine surgical problems. The appropriate surgical procedure for its effective and safe management is a matter of debate. Though seen by some as an overly hazardous procedure because of the risk of recurrent laryngeal nerve injury and damage to parathyroid function, total thyroidectomy has replaced subtotal thyroidectomy as the procedure of choice, as the latter is associated with significant recurrences. METHODS: A systemic literature review was undertaken of all available medical literature to evaluate whether total thyroidectomy is the appropriate, safe and effective surgical procedure for benign multinodular goiter. RESULTS: There is consistent level II-IV evidence that subtotal thyroidectomy results in recurrence in up to 50% patients. Incidental thyroid cancers are detected in 3%-16.6% of apparently benign goiters in numerous studies, mostly providing level IV evidence, one third of which would need further surgical treatment after subtotal thyroidectomy. Studies comparing subtotal thyroidectomy and total thyroidectomy, including two each of prospective randomized and prospective nonrandomized ones, provide level II-IV evidence that permanent complication rates associated with subtotal thyroidectomy and total thyroidectomy are not different, although the rate of transient hypocalcemia is higher with total thyroidectomy. On basis of these findings, a grade B recommendation can be made that subtotal thyroidectomy is associated with significant recurrence of goiter, leaves a small number of incidentally detected thyroid cancers inadequately treated, and provides little significant safety advantage over total thyroidectomy. Grade C recommendations can also be made about total thyroidectomy being a safe and effective procedure for benign multinodular goiters in the hands of expert surgeons, based on the extensive level IV evidence, and limited level II and level III evidence, which show that the risk of permanent vocal cord palsy and hypoparathyroidism associated with total thyroidectomy is below the acceptable 2% rate, but not without exceptions. CONCLUSION: Total thyroidectomy is the procedure of choice for the surgical management of benign multinodular goiter.     

Reoperative Thyroid Surgery

Reoperative thyroid surgery is an uncommon operation associated with a high complication rate. We retrospectively reviewed the data of 115 patients to study the incidence of complications after reoperative thyroid surgery. There were 107 women and 8 men (13.4:1.0) with an average age of 42.8 years (range 18–80 years). The most frequent indication for reoperation was completion thyroidectomy for a carcinoma identified by permanent sections (50 patients, 43.5%). Reoperative surgery was performed on 13 (11.3%) patients with recurrent thyroid cancer. The remaining 52 patients underwent reoperation for recurrent thyrotoxicosis (12 patients, 10.4%), recurrent nodular goiter (28 patients, 24.3%) or recurrent multinodular goiter (12 patients, 10.4%). Seven patients with recurrent nodular goiter and one patient with recurrent thyrotoxicosis underwent total thyroidectomy for the presence of malignancies that were identified by frozen sections. Overall, the interval between the initial and reoperative procedures ranged from 1 day to 33 years (2335 ± 272 days). The length of hospital stay was 5.8 ± 0.5 days. The length of time needed for reoperative thyroid surgery was 122.0 ± 6.2 minutes. There was no 30-day perioperative mortality. The postoperative complications consisted of transient hypoparathyroidism in six patients (5.2%), permanent hypoparathyroidism in two patients (1.7%), transient RLN palsy in 3 patients (2.6%), and permanent recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy in two patients (1.7%). Reoperative thyroid surgery can be performed safely with little morbidity to the patient.     

甲状腺全切除术治疗甲状腺良性疾病

目的　探讨甲状腺全切除术治疗甲状腺良性疾病的安全性和临床意义。方法　对 88例甲状腺良性疾病患者进行甲状腺全切除术 ,并对手术并发症进行分析。结果　首次甲状腺全切除术暂时性甲状旁腺功能低下和暂时性喉返神经损伤的发生率分别为 2 .5 %和 1.2 % ,再次手术的并发症明显增高 ,分别为 2 8.6 % (P<0 .0 5 )和2 8.6 % (P<0 .0 1)。术后患者均未发生永久性甲状旁腺功能低下和永久性喉返神经损伤。结论　首次甲状腺全切除术安全可行 ,能避免因组织残留所致的病变复发 ,降低再手术率     

甲状腺全切除术治疗良性甲状腺疾病128例临床疗效

目的：探讨甲状腺全切除术治疗甲状腺良性疾病的疗效及术后并发症的预防。方法：回顾性分析128例行甲状腺全切除术的甲状腺良性疾病病人的临床资料,其中首次手术者98例,再次手术者30例。分析总结该128例病人的术后并发症。结果：128例病人术后均未发生永久性甲状旁腺功能低下和永久性喉返神经损伤。首次甲状腺全切除组术后暂时性喉返神经损伤和暂时性甲状旁腺功能低下的发生率均为1．02％,再次手术组的发生率明显增高,分别为10．00％和13．33％,两组比较,Fisher精确概率P分别为0．040、0．011。两组暂时性喉上神经损伤发生率均很低,无明显差别。结论：对符合指征的良性甲状腺疾病,甲状腺全切除术是一合适的治疗选择。熟悉甲状腺解剖和精细手术操作,可有效预防并发症发生。     

Treatment and Prevention of Recurrence of Multinodular Goiter: An Evidence-based Review of the Literature

BACKGROUND: Reportedly, 10-15% of patients with goiters ultimately require operative intervention, and recurrences of multinodular goiter (MNG) account for up to 12% of all thyroid operations. METHODS: We performed an evidence-based review of articles published in the English language between January 1987 and October 2007 relevant to the subject. RESULTS: Medical treatment with T4 appears to be associated with a greater proportion of patients whose nodules decreased in size by more than 50% (22% vs. 10%; range = 14-39% vs. 0-20%). Recurrence rates of benign nodular goiter after total thyroidectomy were essentially nonexistent (range = 0-0.3%) compared with those after subtotal thyroidectomy (range = 2.5-42%) and more limited resections (range = 8-34%). There was no difference between total and less-than-total thyroidectomy with respect to temporary recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) injury (1-10% vs. 0.9-6%, respectively) or permanent RLN palsy (0-1.4%). There was, however, a significantly higher rate of transient hypocalcemia after total thyroidectomy than less extensive operations (9-35% vs. 0-18%, respectively). In relation to redo surgery, permanent hypoparathyroidism appeared to be far more common in the redo group (0-22% vs. 0-4%) Moreover; the redo group had more frequent RLN injury, both temporary (0-22% vs. 0.5-18%) and permanent (0-13% vs. 0-4%). About half the studies examined conclude that postoperative TSH suppression is effective in reducing recurrences, while the other half state that it is not. CONCLUSION: The definitive management and prevention of recurrence of benign nodular goiter is primarily surgical. Total thyroidectomy essentially eliminates the risk of recurrence without an accompanying increased risk of permanent hypoparathyroidism or RLN injury. Therefore, total thyroidectomy should be considered the procedure of choice for benign multinodular goiter whenever possible, especially considering that reoperations for goiter are significantly more morbid than any initial operation.     

Rolle der totalen Thyreoidektomie im primären Therapiekonzept der benignen Knotenstruma

INTRODUCTION: After subtotal resection of multinodular goiter, rates of up to 40% are reported for recurrent goiter in the long-term follow-up. Because of the increased morbidity of surgery for recurrent goiter, this study evaluated the preconditions that would justify total thyroidectomy as part of the primary therapy concept for benign multinodular goiter. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The Quality Assurance Study of Benign and Malignant Goiter covering the period from 1 January to 31 December 1998 assessed 5195 patients treated for benign goiter by primary bilateral resection. With respect to the extent of resection three groups were analyzed: bilateral subtotal resection (ST+ST, n=4580), subtotal resection with contralateral lobectomy (ST+HT, n=527), and total thyroidectomy (TT, n=88). RESULTS: The age of the patients was significantly higher (60.3 years) in the TT group than in the ST+ST (52.5 years) and ST+HT (55.6 years) groups. ASA classification grades III and IV were significantly more frequent in the TT group. The postoperative morbidity increased with the extent of resection. The rate of permanent recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) palsy was 0.8% for ST+ST, 1.4% for ST+HT, and 2.3% for TT and of permanent hypoparathyroidism 1.5% for ST+ST, 2.8% for ST+HT, and 12.5% for TT. Multivariate analysis showed that the extent of resection significantly increased the risk of RLN palsy (transient RR 0.5, permanent RR 0.4) and hypoparathyroidism (transient RR 0.2,permanent RR 0.08). The surgeon's experience (RR 0.6) and identification of the RLN (RR 0.5) reduced the risk of permanent RLN palsy. Additionally, the development of permanent hypoparathyroidism was reduced if at least two parathyroid glands (RR 0.4) were identified. CONCLUSION: Total thyroidectomy is associated with an increased rate of RLN palsies and hypoparathyroidism in comparison to less extensive thyroid surgery. In the hands of well-trained surgeons using an appropriate intraoperative technique, primary thyroidectomy is justified if the patient has an increased risk of recurrent goiter. Due to the increased postoperative morbidity after total thyroidectomy, subtotal thyroid resection based on the morphologic changes in the thyroid gland is still recommended as the standard treatment regimen for multinodular goiter.     

How to prevent surgical morbidity after a total thyroidectomy for a multinodular euthyroid goiter?

AIM OF THE STUDY: Total thyroidectomy has been advocated for the treatment of multinodular nontoxic and benign goiter. The aim of this study, based on our experience, was to define the surgical factors which permit to decrease morbidity related to total thyroidectomy for multinodular euthyroid benign goiter. METHODS AND MATERIALS: In a retrospective study performed between January 1996 and September 2000, all records of total thyroidectomy for initial treatment of multinodular euthyroid benign goiter were reviewed. This study allowed to specify recurrent and parathyroid morbidity after surgery. RESULTS: There were 51 women and 13 men with a mean age of 47 years. Recurrent laryngeal nerve injury occurred in 2 patients. It resolved in 1 patient but was permanent in another (1.6%). Transient hypocalcemia was found in 8 patients (12.5%). One patient had permanent hypocalcemia (1.6%). CONCLUSION: The results of our serie are comparable to previous reports. Systematic identification of the recurrent laryngeal nerve, and preservation of the parathyroid blood supply permit to decrease the surgical morbidity.     

Surgical treatment of substernal goiter: An analysis of 59 patients

PURPOSE: Substernal goiter is defined as a thyroid mass of which more than 50% is located below the thoracic inlet. In this article we report the diagnosis, symptoms, thyroid function, treatment, and postoperative complications of 59 patients with substernal goiter. METHODS: Between 1992 and 2005, 59 patients underwent surgery for substernal goiter at our institution. The indications for surgery were multinodular goiter in 46 cases, follicular adenoma in two cases, and Hashimoto's thyroiditis in one case. Ten patients were operated on for recurrent thyroid disease. RESULTS: The leading preoperative symptoms were dyspnea (49.2%), dysphagia (13.6%), hyperhidrosis (10.2%), and cardiac dysfunction (6.8%). All but two thyroid glands could be removed through a Kocher transverse collar incision. The most common postoperative complications were persistent (5.1%) or temporary (3.4%) paresis of the recurrent laryngeal nerve, transient hypocalcemia (3.4%), and hematoma (3.4%). A tracheotomy was required in one patient with bilateral vocal cord paresis (1.7%). CONCLUSIONS: (1) We conclude that a subtotal thyroidectomy is also the treatment of choice for asymptomatic benign substernal goiter. (2) Transverse collar incision should be the standard approach for most patients. (3) The visual identification of at least two parathyroid glands is essential to prevent permanent postoperative hypoparathyroidism.     

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??Application and assessment of total thyroidectomy for benign thyroid nodules ZHANG Hao. Department of General Surgery??the First Hospital of China Medical University??Shenyang 110001??China
Abstract Thyroid nodule is a common disease in clinical practice. Although the majority of thyroid nodules have been found to be benign. Some of them need to be surgically excised when meeting the indications. The thyroid operations include lobectomy??subtotal thyroidectomy and total/near total thyroidectomy??etc. The preferred operation for benign thyroid nodules remains controversial. Less extensive resection may be related to a higher risk of recurrence. While more extensive resection may be associated with a higher risk of recurrent laryngeal nerve injury or hypoparathyroidism. Total thyroidectomy has been used to treat benign thyroid nodules for a long history. It is an operation that can be safely performed nowadays??with low incidence of permanent complications. It has been the optimal surgery that can prevent recurrence and avoid reoperation in cases of benign thyroid nodules such as multiple nodular goiter in foreign countries since a long time ago. It is also suggested to perform the operation in case of bilateral benign thyroid nodules with surgical indications given the different technical levels of surgeons and different situation of individual patient in China.     

Reoperative surgery for thyroid disease

Background and aims Reoperative surgery for thyroid disease is rare. However, it is sometimes indicated for nodular recurrence after partial surgery for initially benign thyroid disease or for a completion total thyroidectomy when a final diagnosis of well-differentiated thyroid cancer (WDTC) is confirmed on a permanent section of a partially removed thyroid gland. This surgery can expose the patient to postoperative complications such as recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) palsy or hypoparathyroidism. The aims of our study were to describe the population subjected to reoperative thyroid surgery and to evaluate postoperative morbidity to find the risk factor. Patients and methods The present study is a retrospective analysis of our experience with completion thyroidectomy: 685 consecutive patients underwent this procedure in a 14-year period, for a recurrent uninodular (85 patients) or multinodular (333 patients) goiter, recurrent thyrotoxicosis (42 patients), or a completion thyroidectomy for WDTC after partial resection of the thyroid gland (225 patients). The operative technique was standardized with identification of the RLN and parathyroid glands before removal of the thyroid gland. l-Thyroxin treatment was started the day after surgery. Postoperative rates of suffocating hematoma, wound infection, RLN palsy, hypoparathyroidism, and persistence or recurrence of hyperthyroidism were studied and compared to the same parameters in patients who underwent primary bilateral thyroid gland resection during the same period. Results The transient morbidity rate was 8%, with 5% hypoparathyroidism, 1.2% RLN palsy, 0.9% suffocating hematoma, and 0.2% wound infection. These results were higher than those from cases of primary thyroid resection for bilateral disease. Within the secondary surgery group, postoperative complications depended on the mean weight of the resected thyroid gland, hyperthyroidism, and the bilaterality of thyroid exploration during the previous surgery. The permanent morbidity rate was 3.8%, including 1.5% RLN palsy and 2.5% hypoparathyroidism. Permanent complication rates were higher than those for primary thyroid resection. Incidental carcinoma was found in 92 patients (13%): 10% (42 of 418) in patients with recurrent euthyroid nodular disease, 7% (3 of 42) in patients with recurrent hyperthyroidism, and 21% (47 of 225) in patients who underwent a completion thyroidectomy for cancer. Conclusion Because reoperative thyroid surgery can lead to potential complications, especially permanent RLN palsy or hypoparathyroidism, it should be reserved for patients who need it. The importance of respecting specific technical rules should be emphasized.     

Secondary thyroidectomy in patients with prior thyroid surgery for benign disease: a study of 203 cases.

BACKGROUND: The goal of this study was to evaluate the complication rate of secondary thyroidectomy in patients with prior thyroid surgery for benign disease. METHODS: Over an 8-year period, 203 thyroid reoperations were performed on 202 patients. All information relating to operative procedures, pathology, and complications was recorded prospectively. RESULTS: There were 24 men and 178 women with a mean age of 52 years. Prior surgery was unilateral in 136 cases (67%) and bilateral in 67 cases (33%), and 14 patients (6.9%) had more than 1 previous thyroid operation. For euthyroid or pretoxic recurrent nodular goiter, 190 reoperations were performed and 13 reoperations were performed for recurrent thyrotoxicosis. Twenty-three cancers were found in a specimen (11.4%). Completion thyroidectomy was done in 143 patients. Postoperative complications occurred in 21 patients (10.4%): recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy (7 patients), hypocalcemia (8 patients), hematoma requiring surgical evacuation (5 patients), and wound infection (1 patient). Complications remained permanent in 4 patients (2%). CONCLUSIONS: The permanent complication rate is higher in thyroid reoperations than in primary thyroid operations. However, we believe that this 2% rate is low enough to allow reoperation whenever it is necessary, provided precise operative rules are respected.     

全甲状腺切除在甲状腺良性结节治疗中应用及评价

甲状腺结节临床常见,尽管大部分为良性,但有手术指征时应行手术治疗,手术方式主要包括腺叶切除、甲状腺次全切除和全（近全）甲状腺切除等。甲状腺良性结节的手术方式目前尚存争议,若切除范围过小,结节复发风险增加,可能须再次手术;切除范围过大,则可能增加喉返神经损伤及甲状旁腺功能减退等并发症发生风险。全甲状腺切除因其能彻底切除病变,降低复发风险,避免再次手术,且并发症无明显增加,已成为国外治疗结节性甲状腺肿等良性甲状腺结节的首选术式。在我国,应综合考虑医生的技术水平、病人的个体情况及意愿等因素,可以考虑对具有手术指征的双叶甲状腺良性结节采用全甲状腺切除术。     

A comparison of total thyroidectomy and lobectomy in the treatment of dominant thyroid nodules

Patients with a clinically concerning dominant thyroid nodule have been managed by lobectomy or total thyroidectomy at our institution. We determined the complications associated with both approaches and the ability of thyroid lobectomy to avoid the need for thyroid hormone replacement therapy. Records of all patients with a dominant thyroid nodule managed with surgery from August 1993 through December 2000 were reviewed for demographics, history of head and neck radiation, indication for surgery, preoperative fine-needle aspirate results, final pathologic evaluation, perioperative complications, determinations of need for subsequent thyroid surgery after lobectomy, and need for thyroid hormone replacement therapy after surgery. Patients with a preoperative diagnosis of malignancy or bilateral or diffuse disease were excluded because these conditions would uniformly be managed by bilateral thyroidectomy. The complications for the lobectomy group (n = 131) compared with the total thyroidectomy group (n = 84) were: recurrent laryngeal nerve paresis (4.6% vs 2.4%), recurrent laryngeal nerve injury (0.8% vs 0), and transient hypoparathyroidism (1.5% vs 9.5%; P = 0.007). No permanent hypoparathyroidism was identified in either group. Postoperative thyroid hormone replacement was required in 64 of 131 lobectomy patients (48.8%). Complications associated with either surgery were low. Total thyroidectomy was not associated with clinically significant additive morbidity. Patients treated by lobectomy should be aware of a nearly 50 per cent chance of requiring thyroid hormone replacement. Total thyroidectomy avoids future thyroid surgery; lobectomy patients remain at risk. When complications can be minimized total thyroidectomy should be considered an option in the management for patients with dominant thyroid nodules that require surgery.     

甲状腺全切除术的适应证及安全性分析

目的探讨甲状腺全切术的手术适应证以及并发症的防治。方法回顾性分析2009年1月至2011年12月期间在笔者所在医院接受甲状腺全切除术的85例患者的临床资料。85例中甲状腺癌46例,结节性甲状腺肿38例,桥本甲状腺炎1例。分析其手术过程以及术后并发症。结果术后病理检查提示46例甲状腺癌中9例（19.6%）为双侧癌;38例结节性甲状腺肿患者均为双侧多发结节。全部患者均解剖出2条喉返神经,有4例患者的喉返神经被肿瘤侵犯,其中1条喉返神经被切除。有5例患者术中未能明确看到并保留甲状旁腺,其余患者均保留了1枚或以上的甲状旁腺。有2例患者术后发生出血需再次手术止血;有6例患者术后出现声音嘶哑,除1例喉返神经被切除者之外,其余患者声音均恢复正常;33例（38.8%）患者出现一过性低钙血症症状;2例患者出现永久性甲状旁腺功能低下。结论甲状腺全切除术是治疗双侧结节性甲状腺肿和甲状腺癌的安全术式,术中显露喉返神经与鉴别甲状旁腺可有效防止相应并发症的发生。肿瘤侵犯喉返神经并不一定导致患者声音嘶哑。     

甲状腺全切除术治疗良性甲状腺疾病临床价值的研究

目的:探讨甲状腺全切除术治疗甲状腺良性疾病的价值及临床意义。方法:回顾分析我院2005年3月～2007年3月收治的169例行甲状腺全切除术的甲状腺良性疾病患者临床病理资料,并对其术后并发症进行分析总结。结果:首次甲状腺全切除术后暂时性甲状旁腺功能低下和暂时性喉返神经损伤的发生率分别为0.76%和1.52%,再次手术的并发症明显增高,分别为40.54%和32.43%,P<0.01。术后患者均未发生永久性甲状旁腺功能低下和永久性喉返神经损伤。结论:甲状腺全切除术治疗良性甲状腺疾病能避免组织残留所致的病变复发和癌变,降低再手术率,且首次手术较再次手术的并发症率低,但需在术中精细操作。     

The Change in Surgical Practice from Subtotal to Near-Total or Total Thyroidectomy in the Treatment of Patients with Benign Multinodular Goiter

Background  Although total thyroidectomy is the procedure of choice in patients with thyroid carcinoma, this surgical approach has emerged as a surgical option to treat patients with benign multinodular goiter (BMNG), especially in endemically iodine-deficient regions. The aim of this study was to review our experience with patients with BMNG in an endemically iodine-deficient region treated by either subtotal or total/near-total thyroidectomy, and to document whether total or near-total thyroidectomy decreased the rate of completion thyroidectomy for incidentally diagnosed thyroid carcinoma in comparison to the patients with BMNG treated initially by subtotal thyroidectomy. Methods  Two thousand five hundred ninety-two patients with BMNG were included. There were 1695 bilateral subtotal thyroidectomies (group 1) and 1211 total or near-total thyroidectomies (group 2) for BMNG during this period. All patients were euthyroid and had no history of hyperthyroidism, radiation exposure, or familial thyroid carcinoma. Any patient with preoperative or perioperative suspicion of malignancy or hyperthyroidism was excluded. Results  Bilateral subtotal thyroidectomy was performed in 1695 patients (58.3%) in group 1 and total or near-total thyroidectomy in 1211 patients (41.7%), in group 2, respectively. The incidence of incidental thyroid carcinoma was found to be 7.2% (n = 210/2906). Although the rate of permanent hypoparathyroidim and transient or permanent unilateral recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) palsy were not significantly different between the two groups, transient hypoparathyroidism was significantly higher in group 2 than in group 1 (8.4% vs. 1.42%; p < 0.001, odds ratio [OR] = 52.98). The incidence of thyroid carcinoma was significantly higher in group 2 (10.7%, n = 129/1211) than in group 1 (4.68%, n = 81/1695) (p < 0.001; OR = 39.1).Thirty-eight patients in group 1 (2.24%) underwent completion thyroidectomy, whereas completion thyroidectomy has been not indicated in group 2 (p = 0.007). Two of 38 patients (5.26%) had thyroid papillary microcarcinoma on their remnant thyroid tissue. The rate of recurrent goiter was 7.1% in group 1. The average time to recurrence in group 1 was 14.9 ± 8.7 years. Six of 121 patients with recurrent disease (4.95%) has been operated on. Conclusions  Subtotal thyroidectomy resulted in a significantly higher rate of completion thyroidectomy for incidentally diagnosed thyroid carcinoma compared with total or near-total thyroidectomy in patients with BMNG. The extent of surgical resection had no significant effect on the rate of permanent complications. We recommend total or near-total thyroidectomy in BMNG to prevent recurrence and to eliminate the necessity for early completion thyroidectomy in case of a final diagnosis of thyroid carcinoma.     

Changes in the choice of thyroidectomy for benign thyroid disease

Purposes

There is an increasing trend towards performing more radical resections instead of a subtotal resection for benign thyroid disease. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of this change in practice on the surgical treatment of bilateral thyroid diseases in this unit.

Methods

The data on 367 patients that underwent a bilateral thyroidectomy were categorized by dividing the operation types into 4 groups: (1) total thyroidectomy (TT), (2) near-total thyroidectomy, (3) Dunhill procedure, and (4) bilateral subtotal thyroidectomy.

Results

A statistically significant change in the choice of thyroidectomy occured during the study period (p < 0.001). TT has replaced subtotal thyroidectomy (STT; bilateral subtotal thyroidectomy and Dunhill procedure) as the preferred routine surgical procedure for bilateral benign thyroid diseases in this clinic. The permanent complication rates were similar for all surgical procedures. The rate of secondary thyroidectomy for both recurrence of multinodular goiter and incidental thyroid carcinoma were significantly higher in the STT groups, than the total in the TT and near-total thyroidectomy patients.

Conclusions

Total or near total thyroidectomy procedures are now being increasingly employed to treat bilateral benign thyroid disease, and are as safe as the sub-total thyroidectomy procedures, which are more conservative and associated with significantly higher recurrence rates.