title: Thyroidectomy does not cause globus pattern symptoms.
abstract: Post-thyroidectomy patients often complain of globus pharyngeus type symptoms. One of the organic pathologies recognized as causing globus pattern symptoms is goitre. We conducted a prospective questionnaire-based study in the thyroid clinic at Hull Royal Infirmary to examine the relationship between goitre, thyroidectomy and globus pattern symptoms by using the Glasgow-Edinburgh Throat Scale. A questionnaire-based study in which 41 consecutive patients due to undergo thyroidectomy prospectively completed the questionnaire pre-operatively and 12 months post-operatively. A subset of 25 randomly selected patients also completed the questionnaire three months post-operatively. Globus symptoms were not worsened by thyroidectomy at three or 12 months. Indeed two of the questioned parameters were significantly improved at three months, and six at one year (p < 0.023). In conclusion, thyroidectomy does not exacerbate globus pharyngeus symptoms. Indeed, in the absence of other clinical causes, when a patient has a World Health Organization (WHO) 2 goitre or greater, thyroidectomy may improve them.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Hull Royal Infirmary, Hull, UK. kyaw.maung@macunlimited.net
authors.forename: K H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Maung
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hayworth
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Nix
authors.forename: S L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Atkin
authors.forename: R J A
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: England
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000523:psychology; D004739:England; D005260:Female; D006042:Goiter / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010608:Pharyngeal Diseases / Q000523:psychology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011602:Psychophysiologic Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013965:Thyroidectomy / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000523:psychology