Investigation of TSH dependency, circulating thyroid autoantibody, and morphological features of recurrent nontoxic goitre

Pathogenetical factors possibly responsible for recurrence of nontoxic goitre in a nonendemic area are evaluated. A group of 22 female patients admitted for surgical treatment of recurrent nontoxic goitre was compared with a control group of 86 female nontoxic goitrous patients not operated upon before. Preoperative serum baseline thyrotrophin levels in the recurrent goitre group were low normal and did not differ significantly from those in the control group. Circulating thyroid microsomal autoantibodies, thyroglobulin antibody titers, and the densities of lymphocytic aggregation in goitrous tissue did not differ significantly in the two groups. Thus, none of the parameters studied were likely explanations of regrowth of goitre.