surgical options for graves' disease

ABSTRACT

Sixty consecutive patients [12 men and 48 women with mean age +/- SD 31.92 +/- 11.11 years] undergoing surgical treatment for Graves' disease were randomized to have either total thyroidectomy [TT, n = 30] or subtotal thyroidectomy [ST, n = 30]. There were no mortality, postoperative bleeding or thyrotoxic crisis. There were no permanent recurrent laryngeal nerve [RLN] palsy or hypocalcemia in either groups. Temporary unilateral RLN palsy occurred in one ST patient and in three TT patients. Temporary hypocalcemia occurred in 33 out of 60 patients; 20 patients in TT and 13 patients in ST. So, TT does not present more complications with respect to ST, but it avoids the worsening of thyroid immoral autoimmunity and the relapse of hyperthyroidism. Thus, it could represent the treatment of choice for graves' disease