Age is no contraindication to thyroid surgery.
BACKGROUND
There is increased risk of surgical treatment in elderly patients, but little has been written on the safety and efficacy of thyroid surgery in this group.


OBJECTIVE
To determine if there is an increased risk of morbidity and mortality of thyroid surgery in patients over 75 years old.


METHODS
During the period 1986-96, 1631 patients aged 50 and over underwent 1673 procedures by two surgeons in our unit. We retrospectively compared indications for surgery, procedures, pathology complications and mortality in three groups: 50-60-year-olds (725 patients), 61-74-year-olds (685 patients) and those aged 75 years and over (221 patients)


RESULTS
The main indication for surgery in all three groups was compression or risk of malignancy. Total thyroidectomy was the main procedure performed. Although benign multinodular goitre was the commonest diagnosis, the over-75-year-olds had fewer benign multinodular goitres than the 61-74 group and more malignancy than the other two groups. There was no significant difference in mortality between the three groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Surgery in patients over 75 is as safe as in younger patients with no increase in morbidity and mortality. Benign multinodular goitre is the most common indication for surgery.
Bliss
R
R
Department of Surgery, University of Sydney, Royal North Shore Hospital, Australia.
Patel
N
N
Guinea
A
A
Reeve
T S
TS
Delbridge
L
L
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000075202:Contraindications; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009017:Morbidity; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013959:Thyroid Diseases / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D013965:Thyroidectomy