ABSTRACT
Objective: To analyze the safety and effectiveness of total thyroidectomy in the surgical management of bilateral benign multinodular goiter. Materials and Methods: A prospective review of patients with bilateral benign multinodular goiter undergoing subtotal thyroidectomy (Group 1), and near-total thyroidectomy and total thyroidectomy (Group 2) during 5-year period was undertaken. Patients’ demographics, indications for surgery, type of operation performed, final histological diagnosis and complications were recorded. Transient and permanent complications regarding hypoparathyroidism and recurrent laryngeal nerve paralysis were analyzed for each surgical procedure. Results: Out of a total of 207 patients, recurrence of benign multinodular goiter was recorded in 27 (30%) cases in group 1 while there was no recurrence in group 2 (p < 0.01). Completion thyroidectomies were performed in 31 (34%) patients in group 1 whereas none was required in group 2 (p < 0.01). Incidental thyroid malignancy was found to be 18% (n= 38/207) in this study which necessitated completion thyroidectomy in group 1 patients. Permanent hypoparathyroidism was documented in 4(4%) and 3(1.8%) and transient hypoparathyroidism in 5 (6%) and 4 (2.8%) cases in groups 1 and 2, respectively; p value not significant. Permanent hypoparathyroidism and transient RLN palsy were recorded in 9 (29%) and 8 (25%) patients, respectively in those patients who underwent second thyroid surgery (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Total or near-total thyroidectomy is effective and safe for the surgical treatment of bilateral multinodular goiter to prevent recurrence and to eliminate the need for completion thyroidectomy in case of final diagnosis of incidental thyroid malignancy.