title: Impact of postthyroidectomy scar on the quality of life of thyroid cancer patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Surgical scars are crucial cosmetic problem, especially when in exposed areas such as the anterior neck following thyroidectomy.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the impact of post-thyroidectomy scars on quality of life (QoL) of thyroid cancer patients and identify the relationship between scar characteristics and QoL.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients with post-thyroidectomy scars on the neck were recruited. QoL was measured using the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI). Scar characteristics were graded according to Vancouver scar scale (VSS) score.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ninety-seven patients completed a battery of questions at the time of enrollment. Post-thyroidectomy scars were classified according to morphology as linear flat scars, linear bulging scars, hypertrophic scars or adhesive scars. There were 32 patients (33.0%), 9 patients (9.3%), 41 patients (42.3%) and 15 patients (15.5%), respectively, in each group. The mean total DLQI score was 9.02. Domain 2 (daily activities, 2.87 points), which includes questions about clothing, was the most greatly impacted among patients. The total DLQI scores of patients who have experienced scar-related symptoms were significantly higher than those of patients without symptoms (p<0.05). The VSS scores were 3.09 for linear flat scars, 6.89 for linear bulging scars, 6.29 for hypertrophic scars and 5.60 for adhesive scars. However, the DLQI scores did not significantly differ among scar types or VSS scores.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Post-thyroidectomy scars on the neck affect the QoL of thyroid cancer patients regardless of scar type. Therefore, clinicians should pay attention to the psychological effects of scars on patients and take care to minimize post-thyroidectomy scar.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Gangnam Severance Hospital, Cutaneous Biology Research Institute, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Yuri
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Gangnam Severance Hospital, Cutaneous Biology Research Institute, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Ji Hye
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: INC Research, Wilmington, NC, USA.
authors.forename: Yeon Hee
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Thyroid Cancer Center, Gangnam Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Yong Sang
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Thyroid Cancer Center, Gangnam Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Hang-Seok
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Thyroid Cancer Center, Gangnam Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Cheong Soo
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Gangnam Severance Hospital, Cutaneous Biology Research Institute, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Mi Ryung
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Roh
keywords: Dermatology life quality index; Post-surgical scar; Quality of life; Scar; Thyroidectomy