Abstract
Objectives: Three classic treatment modalities have been used to treat Graves' disease: antithyroid medication, radioiodine ablation, and subtotal thyroidectomy. Postoperative thyroid functions were studied in patients with Graves' disease treated by subtotal thyroidectomy to evaluate the superiority of surgical treatment. Materials and Methods: One hundred fourty patients of Graves' disease were analysed retrospectively in follow-up for more than three years following subtotal thyroidectomy. Postoperative serum levels of $T_3,\;T_4, TSH, TSH-R Ab, free $T_4$, were evaluated to watch hypo- or hyperthyroidsm. Results: In the evaluation of preop- and postoperative thyroid function after three years of subtotal thyroidectomy, $T_3$ was changed from $464.10{\pm}196.16ng/dl$ to $140.41{\pm}76.56ng/dl$ in mean value, $T_4$ was changed from $20.76{\pm}7.98{\mu}g/dl$ to $9.54{\pm}4.02{\mu}g/dl$, $TSHT_3$ was changed from $0.55{\pm}4.42{\mu}u/ml$ to $4.96{\pm}7.20{\mu}u/ml$, TSH-R Ab was changed from $41.6{\pm}28.27%$ to $28.7{\pm}28.79%$ and free $T_4$ was changed from $4.45{\pm}2.33ng/dl$ to $1.44{\pm}0.69ng/dl$ in mean value. Euthyroidism was noted in 118 patients(84.3%), overt hyperthyroidism in 6 patiens(4.3%), latent hyperthyroidism in 8 patients(5.7%), overt hypothyroidism in 2 patint(1.4%), and latent hypothyroidism in 6 patients(4.3%). Of surgical complications, permanant hypoparathyroidism was found in one patient, recurrent laryngeal nerve injury in two patients, postoprative bleeding with reoperation in two patients, and death in one patient. Conclusion: The thyroid function after subtotal thyroidectomy in diffuse toxic goiter is normal level (euthyroidism) in 84.3% and low recurrence rate of hyperthyroidism is showed with rare surgical complication. Therefore, subtotal thyroidectomy in diffuse toxic goiter is more effective and safe than RI or longterm ATD treatment, if the operation is performed by skillful surgeon.