title: [Surgical treatment of Basedow's disease: our experience with 424 operations].
abstract: From February 2002 to December 2005, 424 operations for thyroid disease were performed in our institute. Twenty-two patients were suffering from Basedow's disease, 14 female and 8 male, mean age 36 years (range: 23 to 53 years). In each patient the diagnosis of Basedow's disease was made according to common clinical and laboratory criteria, by evaluation of the thyroid hormones, TSH and TRAB. Before operation all patients were rendered euthyroid with antithyroid drug treatment. Fourteen total thyroidectomies (64%) and 8 near-total thyroidectomies (36%) were performed. Postoperative thyroid function status was evaluated before, 3-4 weeks after the operation and then 3, 6,12 and 24 months postoperatively. The patients were classified as euthyroid (FT3-FT4 and TSH normal), hypothyroid (FT3 and/or FT4 reduced and TSH increased), or hyperthyroid (FT3-FT4 increased). In expert hands, surgical treatment appears to be capable of curing the hyperthyroidism of Basedow's disease effectively, with a very low and largely acceptable risk of complications. Among the different types of surgery, total thyroidectomy and near-total thyroidectomy are equally appropriate to ensure there is no risk of recurrence of hyperthyroidism.
authors.affiliation: VII Divisione di Chirurgia Generale, Seconda Università degli Studi di Napoli SUN.
authors.forename: Giancarlo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Candela
authors.forename: Sergio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Varriale
authors.forename: Fiorenza
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Manetta
authors.forename: Lorenzo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Di Libero
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Maschio
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pizza
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Napolitano
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Santini
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006111:Graves Disease / Q000097:blood* / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013960:Thyroid Function Tests; D013963:Thyroid Hormones / Q000097:blood*; D013965:Thyroidectomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D013972:Thyrotropin / Q000097:blood; D013974:Thyroxine / Q000097:blood; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014284:Triiodothyronine / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D013963:Thyroid Hormones; D014284:Triiodothyronine; D013972:Thyrotropin; D013974:Thyroxine