BACKGROUND: One of the issues in the debate surrounding the extent of
thyroid excision for localized, well-differentiated thyroid cancer is
the low morbidity rate reported after all degrees of thyroid resection
. This study was conducted to determine morbidity and mortality after
surgical resection for thyroid cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ninety-o
ne patients with thyroid carcinoma were identified from tumor registri
es at a university, veterans administration, and private hospital over
a 36-year period. Forty-five patients (49%) underwent total thyroidec
tomy, 28 (31%) subtotal thyroidectomy, and 18 (20%) thyroid lobectomy.
RESULTS: Permanent postoperative local complications occurred in 4% o
f patients. Forty-four patients (48%) experienced temporary local comp
lications: transient hypocalcemia in 38 (42%), airway obstruction in 3
(3%), postoperative bleeding iu 2 (2%), and recurrent laryngeal nerve
injury in 1 (1%). The local complication rate increased in direct rel
ationship to the extent of thyroid resection. There were no postoperat
ive deaths. CONCLUSION: The most frequent underreported morbidity afte
r thyroid resection is transient hypocalcemia. Compared to other life-
threatening or permanent postoperative complications that could occur,
transient hypocalcemia is relatively less important, and the signific
ance of its identification is predominantly economic.