ObjectiveTo investigate the curative effects of Dunhill surgery and bilateral subtotal thyroidectomy in the treatment of bilateral nodular goiter(NG), and its effects on prognosis.

MethodsThe clinical data of 120 bilateral NG patients were retrospectively analyzed, and the patients were divided into the Dunhill surgery group(55 cases) and bilateral subtotal thyroidectomy group(65 cases) according to different surgical methods.The operation time, intraoperative blood loss, indwelling drainage time, drainage volume, hospitalization time, and incidence rates of complication and recurrence were compared between two groups.The levels of free triiodothyronine(FT3), free thyroxine(FT4) and serum thyroid stimulating hormone(TSH) in two groups before and after surgery were detected using chemiluminescence method.

ResultsThe operation time in Dunhill surgery group was significantly longer than that in bilateral subtotal thyroidectomy group(P < 0.01).The differences of the levels of TSH, FT3 and FT4 before and after surgery between two groups were not statistically significant(P>0.05).The incidence rate of hypocalcemia in Dunhill surgery group was higher than that in bilateral subtotal thyroidectomy group(14.55% vs 1.54%)(P < 0.05).The differences of the incidence rates of hoarseness, recurrent laryngeal nerve injury, hand and foot numbness and hypothyroidism were not statistically significant between two groups(P>0.05).The recurrence rate in Dunhill surgery group was lower than that in bilateral subtotal thyroidectomy group(P < 0.05).

ConclusionsDunhill surgery has the same effect as bilateral subtotal thyroidectomy in the treatment of nodular goiter.However, Dunhill surgery can better balance the efficacy and safety, and reduce postoperative recurrence rate.