Age is no contraindication to thyroid surgery

Background: there is increased risk of surgical treatment in elderly patients, but little has been written on the safety and efficacy of thyroid surgery in this group. Objective: to determine if there is an increased risk of morbidity and mortality of thyroid surgery in patients over 75 years old. Patients and methods: during the period 1986-96, 1631 patients aged 50 and over underwent 1673 procedures by two surgeons in our unit. We retrospectively compared indications for surgery, procedures, pathology, complications and mortality in three groups: 50-60-year-olds (725 patients), 61-74-year-olds (685 patients) and those aged 75 years and over (221 patients) Results: the main indication for surgery in all three groups was compression or risk of malignancy. Total thyroidectomy was the main procedure performed. Although benign multinodular goitre was the commonest diagnosis, the over-75-year-olds had fewer benign multinodular goitres than the 61-74 group and more malignancy than the other two groups. There was no significant difference in mortality between the three groups. Conclusions: surgery in patients over 75 is as safe as in younger patients with no increase in morbidity and mortality. Benign multinodular goitre is the most common indication for surgery.