title: The changing aspect of thyroid surgery: a review of 130 consecutive cases.
abstract: A retrospective analysis was performed on 130 thyroid gland operations from January 1986 to September 1992. In 69% a lobectomy and in 28% a subtotal thyroidectomy was performed for benign thyroid disorders. A total thyroidectomy for malignancy was required in only 3%. Recurrences, operated earlier elsewhere accounted for 6% of the cases. A dramatic fall in diagnostic lobectomies is seen through the years since the use of Fine Needle Aspiration (FNA) as a decisive tool in surgical strategy. The total load of thyroid surgery remains the same, but it has become more therapeutic: hyperthyroidism and relief of tracheo-oesophageal compression by large goiters have become the major indications for surgery. These procedures are more demanding on the surgeon, but early surgery and standard technique can keep complications to a minimum.
authors.affiliation: AZ St Elisabeth, Herentals, Belgium.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Puls
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001707:Biopsy, Needle / Q000379:methods; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology; D013959:Thyroid Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D013965:Thyroidectomy / Q000379:methods*