title: High long term recurrence rate after subtotal thyroidectomy for nodular goitre.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To establish the long term recurrence rate in patients operated on for nodular goitre and to find out if oral treatment with thyroxine reduces this risk.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective study.
  
  
  METHODS
  District hospital, Sweden.
  
  
  METHODS
  43 patients who underwent subtotal thyroidectomy for nodular goitre (36 non-toxic, 7 toxic) from 1960-65, and who were re-examined in 1993; 11 patients were given oral thyroxine during the postoperative period and the remaining 32 had no medical treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Recurrence of goitre.
  
  
  RESULTS
  5/11 goitres recurred in the thyroxine group (45%) and 13/32 (41%) in the untreated group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The recurrence rate of nodular goitre is high 30 years after subtotal thyroidectomy. Long term oral thyroxine does not seem to change the picture.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Eksjö Hospital, Sweden.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Röjdmark
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Järhult
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006044:Goiter, Nodular / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013965:Thyroidectomy / Q000379:methods; D013974:Thyroxine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D013974:Thyroxine