Ultrasonographic surveillance after surgery for euthyroid goitre in patients treated or not with thyroxine.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the efficacy of postoperative treatment with I-thyroxine in patients operated on for euthyroid goitre after precise definition of extent of goitre disease preoperatively and postoperatively by ultrasound.


METHODS
Retrospective study in a selected population.


METHODS
University hospital, Italy.


METHODS
53 patients operated on from 1984 to 1994 for euthyroid goitre.


METHODS
13 patients who had contralateral disease had lobectomy and contralateral enucleation and were treated postoperatively with suppressive doses of thyroxine. 22 patients underwent lobectomy with no medication. 18 patients underwent subtotal thyroidectomy followed by thyroxine in substitution doses. All patients had regular clinical assessments and ultrasound examination for evidence of recurrent disease.


RESULTS
There were no significant differences in the incidence of relapses between those who had lobectomy and those who had lobectomy plus enucleation (p > 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
We found no significant evidence that postoperative suppressive treatment had any effect on recurrence of goitre. Subtotal thyroidectomy gave the lowest recurrence rate (p = 0.14).
Piraneo
S
S
Department of Surgery, University of Milan, Italy.
Vitri
P
P
Galimberti
A
A
Salvaggio
A
A
Bastagli
A
A
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006042:Goiter / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013965:Thyroidectomy / Q000379:methods; D013974:Thyroxine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014463:Ultrasonography
D013974:Thyroxine