Presentation and Management Outcomes of Goitres at a District Hospital in Abuja, North Central Nigeria: A 15-Year-Review.

BACKGROUND: The clinical and pathologic spectrums of goitres are wide. Even though Nigeria's Federal Capital Territory is within the geographic goitre bed, there is a paucity of thyroidrelated data from this region. The objective of this study was to determine the clinical presentation, management and outcomes of patients with goitre operated-on at the Department of Surgery, Asokoro District Hospital, in Abuja, Nigeria. METHODOLOGY: This is a retrospective study involving patients managed between January 2001 and December 2015. Data were extracted from patients' medical records, operation registers, and histopathology records. Variables were; age, sex, diagnosis, types of operation performed, post-operative complications and histological findings. All patients had general anaesthesia via cuffed endotracheal intubation and the surgical technique used was skin crease transverse collar stud incision. RESULTS: One hundred and thirty four (134) patients were involved in the study: 124(92.5%) were females and 10(7.5%) males. Mean age was 38years±11.0SD. Seventy-seven (57.5%) patients had simple multi-nodular goitre, followed by simple left nodular goitre 20(14.9%) and simple right nodular goitre 17(12.7%). One hundred and twenty-one (90.5%) patients did not have any complications. On histologic examination, most of the lesions were multinodular goitres 60(44.8%), followed by simple nodular goitres, 23(17.2%). Follicular adenoma was the commonest neoplastic variant accounting for 12(9.1%) cases. CONCLUSION: The pattern of goitres in Abuja simulates that from other parts of Nigeria and many other African countries though with fewer malignancies in the present study. The management and outcome of goitres in Asokoro District Hospital Abuja is comparable to those obtained from other centres in Nigeria. Pre-and postoperative complications were also minimal.

CONTEXTE: Le spectre clinique et pathologique des goitres sont larges. Bien que le territoire de la capitale fédérale du Nigeria se trouve dans le lit géographique du goitre, il y a peu de données sur la thyroïde dans cette région. L'objectif de cette étude était de déterminer la présentation clinique, la gestion et les résultats des patients atteints de goitre opérés au département de chirurgie de l'hôpital du district d'Asokoro, à Abuja, au Nigeria. MÉTHODOLOGIE: Il s'agit d'une étude rétrospective portant sur des patients pris en charge entre janvier 2001 et décembre 2015. Les données ont été extraites des dossiers médicaux des patients, des registres d'opérations et des dossiers d'histopathologie. Les variables étaient : l'âge, le sexe, le diagnostic, les types d'opérations pratiquées, les complications postopératoires et les résultats histologiques. Tous les patients ont bénéficié d'une anesthésie générale par une intubation endotrachéale à ballonnet, et la technique chirurgicale utilisée était l'incision transversale du pli cutané incision du collet. RÉSULTATS: Cent trente-quatre (134) patients ont participé à l'étude: 124 (92,5%) étaient des femmes et 10 (7,5%) des hommes. L'âge moyen était de 38 ans±11,0SD. Soixante-dix-sept (57,5 %) patients présentaient un goitre simple et multi-nodulaire, suivi d'un goitre nodulaire simple gauche 20(14,9%, et le goitre nodulaire simple droit 17 (12,7 %). Cent vingt et un (90,5 %) patients n'ont présenté aucune complication. A l'examen histologique, la plupart des lésions étaient des goitres multinodulaires 60(44,8%), suivis par des goitres nodulaires simples, 23(17,2%). L'adénome folliculaire était la variante néoplasique la plus courante avec 12 cas (9,1 %). CONCLUSION: Le modèle de goitres à Abuja simule celui d'autres régions du Nigeria et de nombreux autres pays africains, bien qu'avec moins de tumeurs malignes dans la présente étude. La gestion et le résultatmde goitres à l'hôpital du district d'Asokoro à Abuja sont comparables à celles obtenus dans d'autres centres au Nigeria. Les complications pré et postopératoires étaient également minimes. Mots-clés: Goitres, modèle, résultat de la gestion, Abuja.

Surgical management of intrathoracic goitres.

BACKGROUND: Intrathoracic goitres (ITG) often present with compressive symptoms and require specialised care by experienced surgical teams. Most ITG can be accessed by a transcervical approach (TCA) and only between 1 and 15% will require an extracervical approach (ECA). Many controversies exist regarding the clinical presentation, evaluation, selection of cases for ECA, surgical technique and outcomes. This paper reviews the recent literature on the management, outcomes and evidence-based treatment strategies of ITG. METHODS: We conducted a review of the literature on the evaluation, management and outcomes of surgery for ITGs. RESULTS: The incidence of cancer in the ITGs ranges between 4 and 20%. Multiplanar CT scanning offers the best preoperative evaluation and aids to determine the approach. Most ITG can be accessed by TCA and ECA are only needed in maximum 15% of cases. In experienced hands, the outcome of these surgeries is comparable to thyroid surgery for non-ITG. CONCLUSIONS: Surgery for ITG is challenging. The experienced surgeon however, with few exceptions can address ITG via TCA, with outcomes comparable to those of uncomplicated thyroid surgery.

Retro-sternal Goitre: an Overview.

Retro-sternal goitres are slow growing in nature. Dyspnoea on exertion is the most common presenting symptom due to the pressure effect of goitre on trachea. Due to the increased use of radiological investigations, retrosternal goitres are often diagnosed incidentally without any symptoms. Surgical resection is considered the gold standard management in all symptomatic patients and most of asymptomatic patients. However, "wait and watch" approach is an option, in selected asymptomatic patients, with the evolution of alternative treatment methods. So, the management of retrosternal goitre continues to be a surgical controversy. This article aims at reviewing the evidence-based practice of management of retrosternal goitres including challenges of surgery and postoperative complications.

Surgical management of substernal goitres at a tertiary referral centre: A retrospective cohort study of 2,104 patients.

BACKGROUND: When to use a thoracic approach to treat substernal goitres has often been discussed in the literature. But there are few published reports describing surgical outcomes and associated complications for patients with right-sided vs. left-sided substernal goitres. OBJECTIVE: This study evaluated the characteristics and clinical outcomes of patients who underwent surgical management of substernal goitres, presenting factors indicating the use of a thoracic approach and differences between right- and left-sided goitre extensions. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SETTING: Tertiary referral centre. METHODS: Between January 2007 and December 2012, 2104 patients underwent thyroidectomy at Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and 140 (6.7%) were diagnosed with substernal goitres. Patient medical records were retrospectively reviewed, and data were analysed to assess surgical outcomes. RESULTS: Seven (5.0%) patients required a thoracic approach for goitre removal. Goitre malignancy was verified in 17 (12.1%) patients. The most common postoperative complication was transient hypoparathyroidism (15.0%). Permanent RLN injury occurred in 4.3% of patients and was significantly more frequent using the thoracic approach. Unilateral extension of a substernal goitre was more common than bilateral extension. Right- and left-sided extensions occurred with equal frequency. The rate of postoperative complications was similar between groups and there were no patient deaths. CONCLUSION: Chest radiography and thyroid sonography may provide initial radiologic evidence of goitre extension into the superior mediastinum. Computed tomography evaluation of the depth of goitre extension to the tracheal bifurcation was the strongest predictor of the need to use a thoracic approach. There were no significant differences in the clinical features and outcomes of patients with right- and left-sided substernal goitres. The right recurrent laryngeal nerve shows increased susceptibility to damage during thyroid surgery for substernal goitres. The incidence of malignant substernal goitres is similar to that of malignant cervical goitres.