title: Thyroidectomy in a community hospital: findings of 100 consecutive cases.
abstract: The objective of this study was to determine the characteristics and surgical outcomes of 100 consecutive cases of thyroidectomy (in 98 patients) at a community hospital from October 2005 to mid-November 2006. Preoperative laryngoscopy was performed in 94% of patients and postoperative laryngoscopy in 100%. Patients' thyroid nodules had been found incidentally in 28% of cases. The two most common indications for surgery were results of fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNA) in 55% and size of the thyroid in 22% of cases. Of the 98 patients, 79 (81%) had benign diagnoses, 7 (7%) had microcarcinomas, and 12 (12%) had well-differentiated thyroid cancer. Overall, 5 patients (5%) had temporary recurrent laryngeal nerve paralysis, but this occurred in only 1 (1%) patient in the group with smaller lesions, a statistically significant difference (p< 0.02); none had permanent paralysis. Of 36 patients at risk for hypocalcemia, 3 (8%) and 1 (3%) had temporary and long-term hypocalcemia, respectively. There was no incidence of significant hemorrhage. FNA results were very accurate. We show that thyroidectomy can be performed with minimal laryngeal nerve paralysis or other complications. Larger lesions had significantly higher rates of temporary laryngeal nerve paralysis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, Florida State University College of Medicine, 1405 Centerville Rd., Suite 5400, Tallahassee, Florida 32312, USA. dpostma@tallyent.com
authors.forename: Duncan S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Postma
authors.forename: Marie O
authors.initials: MO
authors.lastname: Becker
authors.forename: Adrian
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Roberts
authors.forename: Spencer
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gilleon
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Soto
mesh_terms: D044963:Biopsy, Fine-Needle / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006764:Hospitals, Community; D006801:Humans; D033162:Incidental Findings; D007828:Laryngoscopy / Q000009:adverse effects; D008297:Male; D011300:Preoperative Care; D012307:Risk Factors; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D016606:Thyroid Nodule / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D013965:Thyroidectomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016896:Treatment Outcome