Abstract
Aim: This study aimed to assess the prevalence of TERs and the value of their dissection during total thyroidectomy in cases with benign multinodular goitre on the surgery outcomes compared to approaches not removing them. Settings and Design: One-hundred consented patients aging 22-60 year (mean 43 +/- 10.1 year) were included in this prospective clinical study. It was conducted in the period between July 2011 to December 2014 at Al-Zahraa University Hospital, College of Medicine for Girls, Al-Azha University, Cairo, Egypt. Methods and Material: Patients were divided into two equal groups (50 patients each) to compare between total thyroidectomy with vs. without dissection of TERs for benign multinodular goitre. The study also assessed the type, prevalence and topographic distribution of TERs in the dissection group. Data analysis was carried out using SPSS Version-23 software for percent distribution and significance using Chi-Square Tests. Statistical significance was set at P <0.05. Results: The prevalence of a pyramidal lobe was 54%; ZT was identified in 36 patients (72%), where, 23 patients (46%) were bilateral, 7 patients (14%) located in the left lobe and 6 patients (12%) in located in right lobe. The thyroid rests were found in 17 out of fifty (34%); of them 9 patients (18%) were bilateral, 6 patients (12%) were in the left side and 2 patients (4%) were in the right side. Whereas 4 patients developed recurrence in the control group, no recurrences were observed in the TERs dissection group. Conclusion: Dissection of TERs during total thyroidectomy was associated with higher rate of complications, but it completely avoided the disease recurrence and the burden of reoperation. Complications may be decreased or prevented by expert hands.