Postoperative goitre recurrence rate in Turkey.
A study was conducted on the incidence of postoperative nontoxic goitre in 206 patients. The mean period of postoperative observation was 7.8 years. The recurrence rate was 30.7% in the 26 patients to whom thyroxine was administered regularly and at doses of 0.15 mg/day or more in the postoperative period, and 46.9% in the 32 patients who received thyroxine regularly at low doses (0.10 mg/day). In contrast, recurrence rate was 71.4% in the 49 patients in whom use of thyroxine was irregular and 81.8% in the 99 patients who received no thyroxine. The recurrence rate was markedly reduced in the patients who used thyroxine regularly at doses of 0.15 mg/day or more as compared with those who used it irregularly or not at all. It was concluded that in Turkey, where iodine deficiency is a major contributory factor of the prevalence of goitre, postoperative administration of thyroxine is necessary in order to reduce the postoperative recurrence rate.
Ibis
E
E
Nuclear Medicine Department, Ankara University Medical School, Turkey.
Erbay
G
G
Aras
G
G
Akin
A
A
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006042:Goiter / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D012008:Recurrence; D013965:Thyroidectomy / Q000379:methods; D013974:Thyroxine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013997:Time Factors; D014421:Turkey; D014463:Ultrasonography
D013974:Thyroxine