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. 2023 Mar;93(3):550-554.
doi: 10.1111/ans.18181. Epub 2022 Dec 20.

Ethnic differences in patients undergoing thyroidectomy for non-toxic multinodular goitre

Jade A U Tamatea  1   2 , Miriam Karalus  1 , Veronica Boyle  1   2 , Goswin Y Meyer-Rochow  1   3 , Marianne S Elston  1   2
Affiliations

Ethnic differences in patients undergoing thyroidectomy for non-toxic multinodular goitre

Jade A U Tamatea et al. ANZ J Surg. 2023 Mar.

Abstract

Background: Māori have an increased incidence of thyrotoxicosis when compvared to non-Māori, however there are limited data on benign non-toxic nodular thyroid disease.

Aims: The aims of this study were to determine the rates of non-toxic multinodular goitre (NTMNG) surgery for Māori and non-Māori and to determine if there were differences in thyroid size between Māori and non-Māori undergoing total thyroidectomy for NTMNG.

Methods: Single centre study of patients undergoing thyroidectomy for NTMNG from 1 December 2006 to 30 November 2016.

Results: Māori were overrepresented amongst the 427 patients who underwent surgery for NTMNG at 34% compared to the expected ~17% of the background Māori adult population in the region. At the time of surgery, Māori were younger (P = 0.004) and had a larger thyroid gland (P < 0.001) when compared to non-Maori also undergoing total/near total thyroidectomy. Complication rates were low across all ethnic groups.

Conclusion: Māori have increased rates of surgery for NTMNG compared to non-Māori and thyroid size is larger at the time of surgery. The reasons for this are currently unknown and more research is required.

Keywords: ethnic groups; goitre; thyroid diseases; thyroidectomy.

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References

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