title: Peri-operative treatment of giant nodular goiter.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To summarize the experience in the peri-operative treatment of giant nodular goiter.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 123 patients with giant nodular goiter sized 6~20 cm were admitted into our hospital from 1990 to 2011 and the clinical data were retrospectively analyzed. These patients underwent total or subtotal thyroidectomy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All patients underwent surgical intervention. Unilateral subtotal thyroidectomy was performed in 40 patients, unilateral total thyroidectomy in 1 patient, bilateral subtotal thyroidectomy in 79 patients, and unilateral total thyroidectomy, removal of entire isthmus and contralateral subtotal thyroidectomy in 3 patients. Nodular goiter was pathologically proven post-operatively. No short-term complications such as dyspnea or thyroid storm were found postoperatively. Post-operative follow up was done for 9 months to 6 years and no recurrence was observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Comprehensive pre-operative preparation, pre-operative evaluation, complete exposure of the operative field, meticulous operation, effective control and prevention of hemorrhage and prevention against damage to superior and recurrent laryngeal nerves are crucial for the successful surgical intervention of giant nodular goiter.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery for Breast and Thyroid, Institute of Surgery Research, Daping Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China.
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: Wuguo
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Tian
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Xiaohua
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Jianjie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Shu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Jinping
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Donglin
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Luo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002291:Carcinoma, Papillary / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006044:Goiter, Nodular / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D013965:Thyroidectomy / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014463:Ultrasonography
keywords: nodular goiter; peri-operative treatment; surgical intervention.