RESUMO
PURPOSE: The diagnosis of Graves' disease can be clinically made by the findings of hyperthyroidism combined with eye signs or a diffusely enlarged goiter. The pathological findings of Graves' disease are hypertrophy and hyperplasia of the thyroid follicles. Surgical treatment for Graves' disease is indicated for patients with a suspicion of cancer, a large goiter, medical failure, patient preference or severe ophthalmopathy. The aim of this study is to determine the diagnostic accuracy of clinically diagnosed Graves' disease on the basis of the postoperative pathologic findings. METHODS: We performed a retrospective analysis of the medical records of the patients who were diagnosed as having Graves' disease since Jan 2000 at St. Mary's Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea. To confirm the pathological findings in this study, the patients who underwent surgical treatment were enrolled, and their preoperative diagnostic tests were also reviewed. RESULTS: A total of 57 patients with Graves' disease underwent surgery due to medical failure in 45 (78.9%), ophthalmopathy in 25 (43.8%), huge goiter in 4 (7%), suspicion of cancer in 4 (7%), and others in 4 (7%). Thirty nine (68.4%) patients were female and total thyroidectomies were performed in 52 (91.2%) patients. The pathological reports of the thyroid specimens showed diffuse hyperplasia in 53 (92.9%), nodular hyperplasia in 2 (3.5%), Lymphocytic thyroiditis in 1 (1.8%) and Hashimoto's thyroiditis in 1 (1.8%). The diagnostic accuracy of preoperative antimicrosomal Ab, anti-TSHR Ab and a technetium 99m thyroid scan was 73.8%, 86.0% and 69.7%, respectively. Papillary carcinoma was identified in 6 patients (10.5%). CONCLUSION: The microscopic findings of 5 patients (7.0%) who were diagnosed clinically as having Graves' disease were not compatible with the criteria for a pathological diagnosis. Surgical treatment and confirmation of the exact pathology should be performed for the appropriate treatment.