title: A review of one hundred and fifty thyroidectomies following prior irradiation to the head, neck and upper part of the chest.
abstract: The records of 150 patients who had operations on the thyroid following prior irradiation to the head, neck and chest regions were analyzed. The over-all incidence of carcinoma of the thyroid in these patients was 32 per cent; however, 8.6 per cent of these were occult microscopic tumors. The technetium scan was found to be a reliable method of identifying nodules of the thyroid, while physical examination proved to be a less accurate method of nodule detection. The multifocal nature of the disease was confirmed in this series in which a 68 per cent incidence of residual carcinoma was detected in patients in whom reoperation was required.
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000601:surgery; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D002291:Carcinoma, Papillary / Q000601:surgery; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013959:Thyroid Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D013965:Thyroidectomy