[Does thyroidectomy worsen Graves'ophtalmopathy?]. / La thyroïdectomie aggrave-t-elle l'ophtalmopathie basedowienne?

AIM OF THE STUDY: To determine if thyroïd surgery increase or not the eye symptoms in patients with Graves'ophtalmopathy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective study included between 1981 and 2001 two groups of patients: - group 1 : 24 patients who underwent thyroid surgery, - group 2 : 13 patients who were treated only by antithyroid drugs. Eye signs were evaluated according to the "NOSPECS" classification. The effect of the thyroid surgery and the medical treatment were evaluated with the NOSPECS classification modified by Orgiazzi in order to allow quantitative comparative data. The reasons why the patients were refered to surgery were:- the important size of the goitre (n = 10), - a recurrent hyperthyroidy despite an appropriated medical treatment (n = 10), - a pregnancy desire (n = 2), - a worsening of the eye signs (n = 2). Eighteen subtotal thyroidectomies and 6 total thyroidectomies were performed. RESULTS: after thyroid surgery, ophtalmic status was noted to improve in 18 patients, to remain inchanged in 1 patient and to deteriorate in 5 patients. In the non-operated group, the results were quite similar, but the mean goitre size was statistically lower and the ophtalmic lesions were statistically appearing later, these two parameters traducting a less serious disease in this group. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that thyroidectomy doesn't worsen the eye symptoms in patients with Graves'ophtalmopathy.

[Giant parathyroid tumors: characterization of 26 glands weighing more than 3.5 grams]. / Les lésions géantes des glandes parathyroïdes: caractérisation de 26 glandes pesant plus de 3,5 grammes.

AIM OF THE STUDY: To determine the characteristics of giant lesions of the parathyroid glands weighting more than 3.5 g. PATIENTS AND METHOD: Twenty-six patients operated on between 1989 to 2001 were included in this retrospective study. Anatomical, biological, clinical and histological parameters were analyzed. Data were compared both with a personnal series of the last 220 patients with hyperparathyroidism operated on in our department and with the results of a primary hyperparathyroidism multicentric study conducted by the French Association of Surgery (AFC). RESULTS: They were 14 females and 12 males with a mean age of 58.57 +/- 13.72 years (ranged: 26-80). Mean weight of the parathyroid glands was 9.87 +/- 9.76 g (ranged: 3.5-40). The diagnosis of parathyroid disease was suspected by symptoms and incidentally discovered hypercalcemia in 17 and 8 cases respectively. In one case, the adenoma was misdiagnosed as a thyroid nodule. Mean calcemia was 125.42 +/- 19.6 mg/L, mean phosphoremia was 21.6 +/- 6.9 mg/L, mean seric parathormone concentration was 451.44 +/- 530.18 ng/L. Comparing with our personnel 220 HPT-series, they was no statistically difference concerning the mean age, but number of males and biological measurements were significantly higher in presence of a giant adenoma. Comparing with the study of the AFC group, there was no statistically difference concerning the symptoms, especially in regard to the asymptomatic forms discovered by hypercalcemia and to the acute hypercalcemia forms. Minor ectopic localizations were found in half of the cases. All the glands were considered as beginnings. After surgery, one patient had a severe hypocalcemia in relation to a hungry bone syndrome. CONCLUSION: Giant adenomas have no specific symptoms even if functional status seems to be more active. Diagnosis is made during the sixth decade as usual. Male people are more often concerned. At surgery ectopic localizations are present in 50% of the cases. In our study their size is not a sign of malignancy. After surgery severe hypocalcemia can occur if a long past of bone disease exists.

[Is subtotal bilateral thyroidectomy still indicated in patients with Grave's disease?]. / La thyroïdectomie subtotale bilatérale de réduction reste-t-elle indiquée dans la maladie de Basedow?

AIM OF THE STUDY: To evaluate the morbidity and the functional results of subtotal bilateral thyroidectomy in patients (TST) with Graves' disease. PATIENTS AND METHOD: A retrospective study was performed in 128 patients. They were 23 males and 105 females with a median age of 34 years (range: 14-68). Weight of remnant tissue was between 4 and 5 g. Thyroid functional status was evaluated, at 3 months and after a follow-up period ranged from 1 to 5 years, by measurement of serum concentration of free T4 and/or free T3 and TSH. RESULTS: They were no post-operative death. Surgical complications were 2 vocal cord palsies and 17 hypocalcemia (inf. to 2 mmol/L). After a median follow-up of 2 years, they were no longer any cases of vocal cord dysfunction and no case of permanent hypoparathyroidism. Functional results were established in 118 patients: 46 patients had clinical hypothyroidism (39%), 64 patients had latent hypothyroidism or euthyroidism (54.2%), and 8 had recurrent hyperthyroidism (6.8%). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that TST with a remnant mass inferior to 5 g provides a low level of recurrent hyperthyroidism and allows to give no drug therapy to half patients. In our opinion, TST is still indicated in Graves' disease.