Is it Time to Shift to Total Thyroidectomy for Benign Thyroid Disease: An Analysis of 77 Redo Thyroidectomies

ABSTRACT Aims and objectives To analyze redo thyroidectomies so as to get a possible answer to the controversy surrounding thyroidectomy for benign disease. Materials and methods This is a retrospective observational cohort. From 1996 to 2010, a total 77 cases of redo thyroidectomies were performed. The data of all patients in the department were maintained on a self developed MS access-based software. The data of redo thyroidectomies were reviewed. These patients were from five districts of Andhra Pradesh, 42 were women and 35 men, 51 underwent subtotal thyroidectomy, 21 had hemithyroidectomy and 5 patients had excision procedure; all were benign. The condition varied from multinodular goiter (MNG) and solitary nodule to follicular neoplasm. There were 44 right-sided, and 43 left-sided surgeries. Recurrence occurred in seven in less than 1 year, in 49 in less than 5 years, in 11 of them in less than 10 years and 10 had recurrence after 10 years. A total thyroidectomy was performed in all. Seventy-five had benign disease. Two had suspected neoplasm; one papillary and one Hurthle cell. One patient had transient recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy. Results Seventy-seven redo surgeries for benign thyroid disease were performed. The high rate of referrals for recurrence probably suggests inadequacy of subtotal and hemithyroidectomies for benign thyroid diseases. Conclusion The present series of 77 redo thyroidectomies clearly suggests inadequacy of initial subtotal thyroidectomy. Evidence-based analysis of complication rates and surgical feasibility supports total thyroidectomy as the complete safe, scientifically acceptable choice of primary surgical treatment for benign thyroid disease. How to cite this article Prasad RG. Is it Time to Shift to Total Thyroidectomy for Benign Thyroid Disease: An Analysis of 77 Redo Thyroidectomies. Int J Phonosurg Laryngol 2015;5(1):4-6.