[Postoperative recurrence of a nodular goiter].

Long-term results were followed up from 3 to 15 years in 649 patients with different morphological forms of the nodular goiter. Postoperative recurrent nodular goiter was diagnosed in 26.8% of the patients. The greater part of recurrences (87.4%) was nodular colloid goiter that was shown morphologically. Main part of the recurrences (69.1%) appeared after operations if the greater part of the thyroid gland was left--resection of a lobe and enucleation of the nodes. No recurrences were registered after thyroidectomy. The results of the investigation suggest that such operations as enucleation of a node and resection of a lobe with a node are thought to be inadequate.