Differences and similarities in the treatment of diffuse goiter in Europe and the United States.

In two separate studies, members of the American Thyroid Association (ATA), and the European Thyroid Association (ETA) were surveyed by questionnaire on their management of Graves' disease. The aim was to determine how expert clinical thyroidologists employ three different therapies which are available for this disorder. Herein we summarize, compare and contrast similarities and differences in the results of these surveys. For the index patient, radioiodine (RAI) was the therapy of choice for 69% of ATA respondents but only 22% of ETA respondents. In contrast, only 30.5% of ATA respondents chose antithyroid drugs as first line therapy compared to 77% of ETA respondents. There was consensus on the relative lack of a role for thyroidectomy. The implications of these differing approaches to the treatment of hyperthyroidism due to Graves' disease are discussed.