Total thyroidectomy for the treatment of thyroid diseases in an endemic area.
BACKGROUND
Thyroidectomy is a common operation with very low mortality and an acceptable morbidity rate. Total thyroidectomy has become the predominant type of surgery used today for the treatment of thyroid diseases. In this retrospective study, we analyzed the complications of thyroid surgery according to the operative technique used in our department.


METHODS
A retrospective analysis was performed for all patients who underwent thyroid surgery during the previous 11 years. The period under study was divided into two sections: phase A (1995-1999) and phase B (2000-2005). Patient characteristics, type of operation, histologic diagnoses and postoperative complications were compared in the two study periods according to the type of surgery.


RESULTS
A total of 264 patients between the ages of 18 and 89 underwent thyroid surgery during the study period (133 in phase A and 131 in phase B). Overall histopathological diagnoses were nodular goiter (54.9%), hyperplastic nodules (14.7%), adenoma (8.3%), thyroid cancer (18.2%), and Hashimoto thyroiditis (3.8%). Total thyroidectomy was performed in 91 patients in phase A versus 115 patients in phase B (P < 0.001), whereas the use of subtotal thyroidectomy and lobectomy decreased over time. A trend toward increased morbidity was noted in phase B. Seven patients had hypocalcemia in phase A, whereas 11 patients had hypocalcemia in phase B. Similarly, 5 patients had some degree of vocal cord paralysis in phase A, compared with 7 in phase B (P > 0.05). Morbidity was significantly increased in the case of cancer or reoperation.


CONCLUSIONS
Despite the slightly higher risk of complication associated with total thyroidectomy, this has gradually replaced more conservative approaches for the treatment of both benign and malignant thyroid diseases. Reoperations and surgery for thyroid cancer carried a higher risk of complications.
Misiakos
Evangelos P
EP
3rd Department of Surgery, University of Athens School of Medicine, Attikon University Hospital, Athens, Greece. misiakos@med.uoa.gr
Liakakos
Theodore
T
Macheras
Anastasios
A
Zachaki
Aglaia
A
Kakaviatos
Nikolaos
N
Karatzas
Gabriel
G
D000328:Adult; D019353:Endemic Diseases; D005260:Female; D006115:Greece / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D006996:Hypocalcemia / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D061226:Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve Injuries; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013959:Thyroid Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery*; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D013965:Thyroidectomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D014826:Vocal Cord Paralysis / Q000209:etiology