Surgical Treatment for Graves' Disease

Abstract

Although such complications as hypoparathyroidism and recurrent palsy occur frequently, surgery produces a rapid and permanent cure of hyperthyroidism in the great majority of patients.
The outcome of surgery for Graves' disease was studied in 22 patients undergoing subtotal thyroidectomy in the 5-year period 1984-1988. There were 16 women and 6 men (ratio 2.6: 1). The median age was 31 years (range 16 to 59 years). Eighteen patients were followed with an average follow-up of 33 months (range 10 to 62 months). Fourteen patients (77.8%) were euthyroid,1 was euthyroid with elevated TSH and 3 had hypothyroidism.