Late results of thyroid surgery for hyperthyroidism performed in childhood.

The authors report on the complex follow-up of 60 patients operated on for hyperthyroidism in childhood, on average 13.7 years after surgery. In 16.7% of the patients manifest hypothyroidism, in 45% subclinical hypothyroidism was found; 30% of the patients were euthyroid, and manifest hyperthyroidism recurred in 8.3%. Autonomous adenomas were enucleated in two children and three young adults. Severe disorders in thyroid function developed especially after the surgery of diffuse toxic goiters accompanied by ophthalmopathy. The disorders of humoral and cellular immunity were detected most frequently in recurrent manifest hyperthyroidism. There was no case where ophthalmopathy progressed after the operation. In the offspring of the operated patients the incidence of hyperthyroidism was not increased in childhood. The authors call attention to the importance of postoperative follow-up and hormone treatment.