The surgical treatment of Graves' disease in children and adolescents

Abstract

Surgery as definitive treatment of pediatric Graves' disease is recommended for children and adolescents experiencing adverse effects of thionamides or disease relapse after at least 2 years of medical treatment. In addition, it is indicated in patients with a large goiter or with suspicious nodules. Total or near-total thyroidectomy should be performed, since subtotal thyroidectomy is associated with a high risk of relapse in this group. Patients should be referred to surgeons experienced in thyroid surgery because studies show that children and adolescents have a higher complication rate than adults.