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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

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