Objective: To try and resolve some of the problems associated with the treatment of goitre in euthyroid patients.
Design: Retrospective open study
Setting: University hospital
Subjects: 106 out of a total of 161 euthyroid patients operated on for goitre from 1974-1988. Those who underwent total thyroidectomy (n = 14), in whom the histological diagnosis was thyroiditis (n = 10), or who were lost to follow up (n = 31) were excluded from the study.
Main outcome measures: Recurrence of goitre, and correlation with type of operation, age, and histological type.
Results: 62 Patients underwent unilateral, and 44 bilateral resections. There were 24 recurrences (23%), 13 of which were subclinical; 19 occurred after unilateral, and 5 after bilateral, resections (p = 0.02). There were no significant associations between recurrence and age or histological type.
Conclusion: Subtotal thyroidectomy is the treatment of choice for goitre in euthyroid patients.