Long-term observation of thyroid function after surgical treatment of thyrotoxicosis.
During the 10-year period from 1960 to 1970 a total of 213 patients with diffuse or nodular toxic goitre underwent subtotal thyroidectomy. A short-term preoperative treatment with antithyroid drugs and iodine was given systematically. The observation period ranged from 5 to 15 years, average 9 years. A total of 203 patients (95%) were traced and followed up. The concentration of se-T4, se-T3, and se-TSH was measured and in selected cases a TRH test and BMR was carried out in addition. All thyroid specimens were re-examined by the same pathologist for histological grading. It was found that 85%  of the patients had been rendered euthyroid for 5 years or more. The recorded incidence of thyroid hypofunction was 6% and the incidence of recurrent thyrotoxicosis was 9% of the series. Se-TSH was found to be elevated in 17%. The correlation between elevated se-TSH and se-T4 values was calculated and found to be fairly reasonable (r = -0.66). It is concluded that subtotal thyroidectomy preceded by short-term antithyroid drug therapy supplemented ultimately with iodine offers significant advantages in the management of thyrotoxicosis by rendering 85% of patients euthyroid on long-term surveillance.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006044:Goiter, Nodular / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D006980:Hyperthyroidism / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012008:Recurrence; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013965:Thyroidectomy; D013972:Thyrotropin / Q000097:blood; D013974:Thyroxine / Q000097:blood; D013997:Time Factors; D014284:Triiodothyronine / Q000097:blood
D014284:Triiodothyronine; D013972:Thyrotropin; D013974:Thyroxine