Recurrence, in Semon’s cases, occurred in 13.6%, which is not a large proportion. It usually occurs early or not at all. Semon and Jackson noted that none of their patients suffered from recurrence after the lapse of the first year. This is a point of great importance; and in this connexion Semon points out, as an additional advantage of thyrotomy, ‘that even in the cases in which either the operation has not been complete, or in which unfortunately genuine recurrence has taken place, the operation does not bring us to the end of our resources; but that, on the contrary, by a repetition of the operation, or by hemi-laryngectomy, or by total extirpation of the larynx, a lasting cure may still be obtained, where the minor operation has failed.’
Cures. I hope it will soon become generally recognized that the radical operation of thyrotomy for removal of early intrinsic malignant disease is attended by a remarkable number of complete cures, and compares favourably with almost any other operation for similar conditions in other parts of the body. Butlin (see Table, [p. 507]), Semon, and C. Jackson have all obtained, in recent years, from 60 to 80% of lasting cures. In Semon’s twenty-five cases,[20] one died of the operation, three cases recurred within a year, and one was too recent to be included, the remaining twenty were cured for varying periods, namely:
1 case over 15 years.
4 cases between 10 and 15 years.
4 cases between 5 and 10 years.
2 cases over 4 years.
3 cases over 3 years.
2 cases over 2 years.
1 case just 2 years.
1 case 1 year and 10 months.