The results of treatment with radioactive iodine and surgery in patients with toxic multi nodular goiter (tmng) from 1999 to 2005 in Ahvaz

Background: The aim of this study was the evaluation of the result of two treatment methods (radioactive iodine and surgery), recurrence rate and hypothyroidism after treatment and side effects in Toxic Multi Nodular Goiter Material and methods: In this retrospective study 354 cases of toxic multi nodular toxic goiter patients that referred to endocrine clinic and treated with one of the above-mentioned treatment method were evaluated. Demographic data, thyroid examination, recurrence of hyperthyroidism, incidence of hypothyroidism after treatment and side effects of treatment were collected. Results: From 326 cases, 20% were male and 80% were female. Mean age was 48?14. From 326 patients treated with radioactive iodine, only 34 cases (10%) relapsed after treatment and 186 patients (57%) showed hypothyroidism after treatment.From 28 patients underwent surgery, only 2 patients (7%) had recurrence of hyperthyroidism, but hypothyroidism after surgery was seen in half of patients and in 10 patients (36%) long-term surgical complications such as laryngeal nerve damage and hyporparathyroidism were seen. Euthyroid cases without permanent side effects had not significant difference in these two treatment methods (33% in surgery versus 29% in radioactive iodine (P > 0.05). Conclusion: surgery in patients with TMNG does not have any advantage on radioactive iodine. Surgery can lead to lifelong complications in patient.