외과적 치료를 시행한 갑상선 결절의 임상적 고찰

Clinical Analysis of Surgically Treated Thyroid Nodules

Objectives: This study was designed to evaluate the methods of diagnosis and treatment of thyroid nodules. Materials and Methods : We performed a clinical review of patients with thyroid nodules, who were surgically treated at the Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, Chosun University from January 1996 to December 1998. Results: 1) The patients were divided into two groups; 65 patients(80.2%) with benign nodular disease and 16 patients(19.8%) with malignant disease. 2) The sex distribution showed a preponderance of females with a ratio of 5.2:1 in benign nodular disease and 3:1 in malignant disease. Benign nodules were more prevalent in patients in their 40's as compared to malignant nodules in patients in their 50's and 60's. 3) The most common duration of illness was 3 months, occurring in 45.7% of the total cases. 4) The most prominent symptom and sign was a palpable nodule in the anterior aspect of the neck. 5) The location of the nodule was ; 41 cases in the right lobe, 29 cases in the left lobe, and 11 cases in both lobes. 6) Thyroid scanning of 40 patients revealed cold nodules in 90.6% of benign nodules and in all malignant disease. 7) Fine needle aspiration cytology were performed in 32 cases of the 81 patients. Comparing with postoperative pathological findings, the results were the same in 87.5% of 32 cases. 8) Intra-operative frozen section study was performed in 56 cases of the 81 patients. Comparing with postoperative pathological finding, the results were same in 96.4% of the 56 cases. 9) The histopathological classification revealed that adenomatous goiters were the most common benign disease and papillary carcinomas were the most common malignant disease. 10) The most frequently employed operation for benign nodules and malignant disease was unilateral total lobectomy. When the metastasis was confirmed, lymphadenectomy and radical neck dissection was performed in malignant disease. 11) Important postoperative complications were transient hoarseness, transient hypocalcemia, hypothyroidism, wound bleeding, and hoarseness. Conclusions: The results of this study suggest that palpable nodules in anterior aspect of neck is revealed cold nodule by thyroid scanning and malignancy by fine needle aspiration cytology, which should be removed surgically. There is no difference in complication and survival rate with type of operation and lymphatic dissection. Therefore, procedure of operation is dependent on the site of nodule and involvement of lymph node.