title: Tear function and ocular surface changes in multinodular goiter patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate preoperative and postoperative conjunctival surface changes in multinodular goiter (MNG) patients and to compare their results with healthy control subjects.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty MNG patients who had undergone near total thyroidectomy were evaluated pre- and postoperatively at the end of the 3rd month and the 1st year by performing tear function tests and conjunctival impression cytologic analysis. These results were compared with the results of 15 healthy volunteers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  When preoperative and postoperative tear function parameters were compared, the mean Schirmer test value and BUT value were decreased, the mean Rose Bengal staining score was increased during the postoperative period. These differences were statistically significant at the end of the 1st year (p < 0.001). The average goblet cell density of the MNG patients decreased significantly during the postoperative period when compared with the preoperative values (p < 0.001). All these findings of the MNG cases were significantly different from the results of the control group both before and after the operation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Tear function tests and the impression cytology findings of the MNG cases were statistically different from the results of the control group during the pre- and postoperative period. We recommend postoperative follow-up of these patients for ocular surface changes.
authors.affiliation: General Surgery Clinic, Ankara Training and Research Hospital, TR-06550 Oran, Ankara, Turkey. turgutcavusoglu@gmail.com
authors.forename: Turgut
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Cavusoglu
authors.forename: Ayse Burcu
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Nurozler
authors.forename: Cengiz
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Titiz
authors.forename: Huseyin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ustun
authors.forename: Yalcin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Aral
authors.forename: Elif
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ozer
authors.forename: Remzi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kasim
authors.forename: Savas
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tezel
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002452:Cell Count; D003228:Conjunctiva / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D020397:Goblet Cells / Q000473:pathology; D006044:Goiter, Nodular / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013666:Tears / Q000502:physiology*; D013965:Thyroidectomy; D013972:Thyrotropin / Q000097:blood; D013974:Thyroxine / Q000097:blood; D014284:Triiodothyronine / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D014284:Triiodothyronine; D013972:Thyrotropin; D013974:Thyroxine