RECURRENCE OF NONTOXIC GOITRE WITH AND WITHOUT POSTOPERATIVE THYROXINE MEDICATION

Abstract

The incidence of postoperative recurrence of nontoxic goiter was evaluated in 175 patients. The average observation period was 8.8 yr. L-Thyroxine (Eltroxin) was taken by 104 of these patients as long-term prophylaxis against goiter recurrence. Ten (9.5%) of the 104 had recurrence. The other 71 patients received no or only brief thyroxine medication postoperatively. In this group there were 8 recurrences (11.3%). The difference was not significant, nor did the 2 groups differ significantly in regard to sex and age distribution, pathologic anatomy and observation time. Routine long term administration of thyroxine after thyroid resection is apparently not justified.