Hyperthyroidism in children. A reevaluation of treatment
B. A. Buckingham, G. Costin, T. F. Roe, J. J. Weitzman and M. D. Kogut
The results of medical and surgical therapy were determined in 107
hyperthyroid children. After surgery, 85% of patients were rendered free of
hyperthyroidism; however, 62% became hypothyroid. After medical treatment,
30% of patients were euthyroid and 2% became hypothyroid. The relapse rate,
however, was higher after medical (22%) than after surgical (9%) therapy.
Serious drug-related complications (arthritis-, hepatitis-, and collagen
disease-like syndromes) occurred in 14% of patients. Complications occurred
in 9% of surgically treated patients, but recurrent laryngeal nerve injury
or permanent hypoparathyroidism did not occur. In medically treated
patients, both a goiter size less than three times normal prior to
treatment and a reduction in goiter size to less than two times normal at
the completion of therapy correlated with a successful outcome.
