Long-term results of surgical treatment in Graves' disease orbitopathy. Is there a correlation between the extent of thyroidectomy and the course of orbithopathy?

Abstract

Unlabelled: The place of thyroidectomy in the management of the Graves' disease patients with endocrine orbitopathy (EO) is still controversial. The aim of this study was to evaluate the course of EO according to the extent of thyroid resection.

Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional study was performed on a series of 171 cases of Graves'disease, operated in the period 1987-2002 in the Department of Surgery of the Philipps University, Marburg. The severity of EO at the time of operation was assessed according to NOSPECS classification and a structured telephone interview was conducted in order to appraise the long term results.

Results: Complete data acquisition was possible in 153 patients (89%). There were 123 women with a median age of 36 years (range 10-75) and 30 men with a median age of 33 years (range 22-65). Concerning the severity of EO, 70 patients (45.8%) had no ocular symptoms (group I). The 83 patients with clinical eye disease were divided in group II--63 patients (76%) with moderate syndrome and group III--20 patients (24%) with marked symptoms of EO. 12 patients received total thyroidectomy, 96 had Dunhill-resection and in 45 patients subtotal resection was performed. A median follow-up period of 96 months (range 12-216 months) was recorded. Post-operatively, of the 83 patients with EO, 53 patients (63.8%) declared an improvement of EO, in 29 patients (34.9%) the disease was stable and only one patient declared the worsening of EO. The extent of thyroid resection did not correlate with the postoperative course of orbitopathy.

Conclusion: Thyroid surgery for GD improves the course of EO, independent of the extent of resection.