Table 1. Retrospective studies of thyroidectomy for intrathoracic goiter.
| 1st author, publication year, venue, study period, number of patients, (age, women:men ratio) | Symptoms, approach, histology | Mortality, morbidity |
|---|---|---|
| Allo 1982 (9), Michigan, USA, 1972-1982, n=50, (mean age 66 years, w/m 3.2:1) | Airway compression 44% | Mortality 0% |
| Dysphagia 26% | ||
| Hoarseness 8% | Pneumonia 2% | |
| Weight loss 6% | Wound hematoma 2% | |
| Thyrotoxicosis 20% | Transient hypocalcemia 4% | |
| Superior vena cava syndrome 8% | Atrial fibrillation 4% | |
| Approach: Transcervical 98% | ||
| Histology: Malignancy 16% | ||
| Katlic 1985 (10), Massachusetts, USA, 1976-1982, n=80, (mean age 56 yaers, w/m 1.66:1) | Cervical mass 69% | Mortality 0% |
| Dysphagia 33% | ||
| Dyspnea 28% | Minimal morbidity | |
| Asymptomatic 13% | ||
| Prior thyroid surgery 12.5% | ||
| Approach: Transcervical 97,5% | ||
| Histology: Malignancy 2.5% | ||
| Torre 1995 (11), Genova, Italy, 1968-1991, n=237, (mean age 57.7 years, w/m 2.03:1) | Cervical mass 72% | Mortality (0.8%) (advanced neoplasms) |
| Compression 16.2% | Early postoperative complications: | |
| Hyperthyroidism 13.1% | Hemorrhage 0.8% | |
| Hypothyroidism 1.3% | Dysphonia 4.6% | |
| Asymptomatic 5.5% | Transient hypocalcemia 2.9% | |
| Prior thyroid surgery 10.54% | Tracheotomy 2.1% | |
| Approach: transcervical 96.62% | Follow up in 194 pts: dyspnoea 1%, dysphonia 3.6%, hypothyroidism 0.5% | |
| Histology: malignancy 6.8% | ||
| Netterville1998 (3), Tennessee, USA, n=23, [mean age 59 years, w/m 2.78:1, (78% women)] | Dyspnea, choking, dysphagia 65% | Mortality 0% |
| Hoarseness 43% | No major complications | |
| Asymptomatic 17% | No evidence of tracheomalakia | |
| Prior thyroid surgery 30% | ||
| Approach: transcervical 100%, | ||
| Histology: malignancy 17%. | ||
| Makeieff 2000 (18), Montpellier, France 1982-1996, n=210, (w:m 4:1, 80% women) | Prior thyroid surgery 12% | Mortality 0% |
| Approach: transcervical 99% | Transient RLN palsy 7.2% | |
| Histology: three papillary carcinomas (1.42%) | Definitive RLN palsy 1.2% | |
| Transient hypoparathyroidism 13.4% | ||
| Persistent hypoparathyroidism 2.1% | ||
| Arici 2001 (12), Antalya, Turkey 1995-2001, n=52, (mean age 52 years, w:m 1.1:1) | Symptomatic 100% | Mortality 0% |
| Approach: transcervical 96% | Transient RLN palsy 4% | |
| Histology: malignancy 12% | Permanent RLN palsy 4% | |
| Transient hypoparathyroidism 8% | ||
| Permanent hypoparathyroidism 6% | ||
| Wound infection 4% | ||
| Postoperative bleeding 2% | ||
| Hedayati 2002 (4), Cleveland, USA since 1990, n=116 | Compressive symptoms 65% | Mortality 0,8% (aspiration pneumonia) |
| Abnormal fine-needle biopsy 39% | ||
| Progressive thyroid enlargement 35% | Transient hypocalcemia 40%, | |
| Thyrotoxicosis 10%, | Transient hoarseness 6% | |
| Superior vena cava syndrome 1.7% | RLN injury 0.8% | |
| Approach:transcervical 98.27% | Wound infection 0.8% | |
| Histology: malignancy 22% | ||
| Cervical mass 88%, | Mortality 0% | |
| Dyspnea 35% | ||
| Asymptomatic 26% | Temporary hypoparathyroidism 7% | |
| Approach: transcervical 93% | Transient vocal cord paralysis 2% | |
| Erbil 2004 (13) Istanbul, Turkey 1990-2003, n=170 | Histology: malignancy 13% | |
| Shen 2004 (14), San Francisco USA, 1993-2003, N=60 | Dysphagia 43%, | Mortality 0% Postoperative airway complications 12% [reoperation for neck haematoma (n=1), prolonged intubation (n=6)] |
| Dyspnea 35% | ||
| Orthopnea 22%, | ||
| Hoarseness 10% | ||
| Superior vena caval obstruction 30% | ||
| Asymptomatic 22% | ||
| Approach: transcervical 98% | ||
| Ben Nun 2006 (15), Haifa, Israel 1990-2005, n=75, (w:m 1.2:1) | Symptomatic 100% | Mortality 1.3% (postoperative respiratory failure) |
| Choking and dyspnea the most common complaint. | Transient RLN palsy 7% | |
| Prior thyroid operation 13%. | Permanent RLN palsy 4%. | |
| Approach: transcervical 91% | Transient hypoparathyroidism 10% | |
| Histology: malignant 12% | Permanent hypoparathyroidism 2.6% | |
| de Perrot 2007 (16), France, 1980-2004, n=185, (median age 68 years, w:m 2.13:1) | Dyspnea 3% | Mortality 0.5% (massive intraoperative carcinomatous pulmonary emboli) |
| Cervical mass palpation 35% | ||
| Superior vena cava syndrome 5% | ||
| Dysphagia 4% | ||
| Dysphonia 4% | ||
| Approach: transcervical 93% | ||
| Histology: malignancy 10% | ||
| Abboud 2010 (19), Beirut, Lebanon, n=127 | Shortness of breath 48% | Mortality 0% |
| Asymptomatic 13% | Postoperative hoarseness 5% | |
| Approach: transcervical 100% | Permanent vocal cord paralysis 0.7% | |
| Transient hypocalcemia 15% | ||
| Permanent hyporarathyroidism 0% |