1. Is subtotal bilateral thyroidectomy still indicated in patients with Graves’ disease?
- Author
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Bilosi, M., Binquet, C., Goudet, P., Lalanne-Mistrih, M.L., Brun, J.M., and Cougard, P.
- Subjects
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GRAVES' disease , *THYROIDECTOMY , *DISEASES - Abstract
Aim of the study: To evaluate the morbidity and the functionnal results of subtotal bilateral thyroidectomy in patients (TST) with Graves’ disease.Patients and method: A retrospective study was performed in 128 patients. They were 23 males and 105 females with a median age of 34 years (range: 14–68). Weight of remnant tissue was between 4 and 5 g. Thyroid functionnal status was evaluated, at 3 months and after a follow-up period ranged from 1 to 5 years, by measurement of serum concentration of free T4 and/or free T3 and TSH.Results: They were no post-operative death. Surgical complications were 2 vocal cord palsies and 17 hypocalcemia (inf. to 2 mmol/L). After a median follow-up of 2 years, they were no longer any cases of vocal cord dysfunction and no case of permanent hypoparathyroidism. Functionnal results were established in 118 patients: 46 patients had clinical hypothyroidism (39%), 64 patients had latent hypothyroidism or euthyroidism (54.2%), and 8 had recurrent hyperthyroidism (6.8%).Conclusion: These results suggest that TST with a remnant mass inferior to 5 g provides a low level of recurrent hyperthyroidism and allows to give no drug therapy to half patients. In our opinion, TST is still indicated in Graves’ disease. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]
- Published
- 2002