Quality of life and clinical outcome after thyroid surgery in children: A 13 years single center experience

Abstract

BackgroundGiven the low mortality of pediatric patients diagnosed with thyroid disease, quality of life (QoL) after thyroid surgery is very important. To organize the best possible patient care we analyzed our experience with respect to QoL and clinical outcome. MethodsThis is a single center, retrospective cohort study. Data of patients who underwent thyroid surgery <19years between January 2000 and December 2012 were collected. QoL was measured using the child health questionnaire child form (CHQ-CF87, <18years) and the World Health Organization quality of life assessment (WHOQOL-100, ≥18years). ResultsForty patients were included (mean age 13.7years; 29 females (72.5%)). Twenty-six patients underwent total thyroidectomy (including 7 repeat surgeries), 14 underwent hemithyroidectomy. QoL assessment in 26 patients revealed lower physical QoL in patients with a current age <18years (n=11) (p<.001), but higher overall and physical QoL in patients ≥18years (n=15) compared with controls (p=.01 and p=.036 respectively). Patients ≥18years, who underwent total thyroidectomy experienced lower overall and physical QoL compared with those who underwent hemithyroidectomy (p=.035 and p=.005 respectively). ConclusionsSurgery for thyroid disease during childhood significantly affects QoL. However, QoL seems to improve with increasing age, and hemi-thyroidectomy has less negative effects on QoL than total thyroidectomy.