title: [Total thyroidectomy in benign thyroid diseases].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In this retrospective study, we reviewed the data from patients who had total thyroidectomy for benign thyroid disease and evaluated the safety of this surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three hundred and twenty three patients (49 males, 274 females; mean age 42.6+/-14.1 years; range 13 to 80 years) who underwent total thyroidectomy between 2002 and 2008 were included in the study. In the preoperative studies, patients with suspicion of thyroid cancer were excluded. Indications for total thyroidectomy, cancer incidence and complication rates were evaluated. Two hundred and eighty three patients (87.6%) were operated on due to bilateral multinodular goiter, 17 (5.3%) due to toxic goiter, 23 (7.1%) due to thyroiditis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In our study, it was found that the incidences of permanent recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy and permanent hypoparathyroidism were 0.6% and 1.86%, respectively. Postoperative hemorrhage requiring repeat surgery occurred in 0.6% of the patients. There was no recurrence during follow-up.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present study shows that total thyroidectomy is a safe procedure with a low incidence of permanent complications. Total thyroidectomy is an acceptable surgical alternative for benign multinodular or diffuse goiters.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Haseki Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey. bayveyseller@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Bayram
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Veyseller
authors.forename: Fadlullah
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Aksoy
authors.forename: Hasan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Demirhan
authors.forename: Yavuz Selim
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Yildirim
authors.forename: Burak
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ertaş
authors.forename: R Murat
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Açikalin
authors.forename: Tolgar Lütfü
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Kumral
authors.forename: Gülüm Ivgin
authors.initials: GI
authors.lastname: Bayraktar
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006042:Goiter / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000601:surgery; D006044:Goiter, Nodular / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007011:Hypoparathyroidism / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D019106:Postoperative Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D012086:Reoperation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012449:Safety; D013959:Thyroid Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D013965:Thyroidectomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000592:standards*; D013966:Thyroiditis / Q000601:surgery; D014826:Vocal Cord Paralysis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D055815:Young Adult