REVIEW  UPDATE ON DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT OF HYPERTHYROIDISM 

The Quarterly Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging 2021 June;65(2):124-31

DOI: 10.23736/S1824-4785.21.03330-6

Copyright © 2021 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English

Current approach to surgical management of hyperthyroidism

Marcin BARCZYŃSKI ✉

Department of Endocrine Surgery, Third Chair of General Surgery, Jagiellonian University, Medical College, Kraków, Poland

Hyperthyroidism is a set of disorders that involve excess synthesis and secretion of thyroid hormones by the thyroid gland, which leads to thyrotoxicosis. The most common forms of hyperthyroidism include diffuse toxic goiter (Graves’ disease), toxic multinodular goiter (Plummer disease), and a solitary toxic adenoma. The most reliable screening measure of thyroid function is the thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) level. Options for treatment of hyperthyroidism include: antithyroid drugs, radioactive iodine therapy (the preferred treatment of hyperthyroidism among US thyroid specialists), or thyroidectomy. Massive thyroid enlargement with compressive symptoms, a suspicious nodule, Graves’ orbitopathy, and patient preference are indications for surgical treatment of thyrotoxicosis. This paper reviews the current literature and controversies on the surgical approach to the management of hyperthyroidism.

KEY WORDS: Hyperthyroidism; Thyrotoxicosis; Graves disease; General surgery