Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-jkksz Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-23T06:24:34.784Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Thyroidectomy does not cause globus pattern symptoms

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 March 2006

K H Maung
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, Hull Royal Infirmary, Hull, UK
D Hayworth
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, Hull Royal Infirmary, Hull, UK
P A Nix
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, Hull Royal Infirmary, Hull, UK
S L Atkin
Affiliation:
Department of Endocrinology, Hull Royal Infirmary, Hull, UK
R J A England
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, Hull Royal Infirmary, Hull, UK

Abstract

Post-thyroidectomy patients often complain of globus pharyngeus type symptoms. One of the organic pathologies recognized as causing globus pattern symptoms is goitre. We conducted a prospective questionnaire-based study in the thyroid clinic at Hull Royal Infirmary to examine the relationship between goitre, thyroidectomy and globus pattern symptoms by using the Glasgow–Edinburgh Throat Scale. A questionnaire-based study in which 41 consecutive patients due to undergo thyroidectomy prospectively completed the questionnaire pre-operatively and 12 months post-operatively. A subset of 25 randomly selected patients also completed the questionnaire three months post-operatively. Globus symptoms were not worsened by thyroidectomy at three or 12 months. Indeed two of the questioned parameters were significantly improved at three months, and six at one year (p < 0.023). In conclusion, thyroidectomy does not exacerbate globus pharyngeus symptoms. Indeed, in the absence of other clinical causes, when a patient has a World Health Organization (WHO) 2 goitre or greater, thyroidectomy may improve them.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
© 2005 Royal Society of Medicine Press

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)