Recurrent goiter was found at 10 years in 1 (0.6%) TT versus 15 (8.6%) DO versus 39 (22.4%) BST patients (p < 0.001 for TT vs. DO or BST and for DO vs. BST), and revision thyroidectomy was necessary in 1 (0.6%) TT versus 5 (2.8%) DO versus 14 (8.0%) BST subjects (p < 0.001 for TT vs. BST and p = 0.019 for DO vs. BST). Detailed data are shown in Table 2. Recurrence-free survival (RFS) for the cohort of 600 patients treated for multinodular non-toxic goiter by total thyroidectomy (TT), Dunhill operation (DO), and bilateral subtotal thyroidectomy (BST) is shown in Fig. 2. TT significantly decreased the risk of recurrence when compared to BST: HR 0.795 (0.643–0.982), p < 0.001 at 10 years (log rank test).Table 2Prevalence of recurrent goiter and need for revision thyroidectomy for 526 patients who completed the 10-year follow-upTTPTT versus DODOPDO versus BSTBSTPTT versus BSTLost to follow-up at 10 years23 (11.5)0.29626 (13.0)0.32925 (12.5)0.343Recurrent goiter [no (%)]1 (0.6) <0.001 15 (8.6) <0.001 39 (22.3) <0.001 Need for revision thyroidectomy [no (%)]1 (0.6)0.0705 (2.9) 0.019 14 (8.0) <0.001 Bold values are statistically significant (p < 0.05) TT total thyroidectomy, DO Dunhill operation, BST bilateral subtotal thyroidectomy χ 2 test for all Fig. 2Recurrence free survival (RFS) for the cohort of 600 patients treated for multinodular non-toxic goiter by total thyroidectomy (TT), Dunhill operation (DO), and bilateral subtotal thyroidectomy (BST). TT significantly decreased the risk of recurrence when compared to BST: HR 0.795 (0.643–0.982), p < 0.001 at 10 years (log rank test)