Thyroidectomy does not cause globus pattern symptoms

Abstract

Post-thyroidectomy patients often complain of globus pharyngeus type symptoms. One of the organic pathologies recognized as causing globus pattern symptoms is goitre. We conducted a prospective questionnaire-based study in the thyroid clinic at Hull Royal Infirmary to examine the relationship between goitre, thyroidectomy and globus pattern symptoms by using the Glasgow–Edinburgh Throat Scale. A questionnaire-based study in which 41 consecutive patients due to undergo thyroidectomy prospectively completed the questionnaire pre-operatively and 12 months post-operatively. A subset of 25 randomly selected patients also completed the questionnaire three months post-operatively. Globus symptoms were not worsened by thyroidectomy at three or 12 months. Indeed two of the questioned parameters were significantly improved at three months, and six at one year (p < 0.023). In conclusion, thyroidectomy does not exacerbate globus pharyngeus symptoms. Indeed, in the absence of other clinical causes, when a patient has a World Health Organization (WHO) 2 goitre or greater, thyroidectomy may improve them.