The goal of this observational study is to develop a questionnaire for measuring swallowing and throat discomfort symptoms in patients with goiter or thyroidectomy, which complies with the model of Rasch and which satisfies the fundamental measurement axioms (e.g., unidimensionality, linearity, generalizability). Developing a scale with such characteristics would provide clinicians and researchers with a reliable tool for assessing the impact of goiter and for measuring the outcomes after surgery.

Also, the study will assess the psychological impact of goiter and thyroidectomy, as well as the characteristics of the surgical scar after thyroidectomy.

The questionnaire will be developed in the first phase of the study. Items and response categories will be identified through interviews performed with patients affected by goiter or after thyroidectomy.

In the following phases of the study, the questionnaire will be administered to patients before and after thyroidectomy.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Diagnosis of goiter or thyroidectomy.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Diagnosis of other neurological disorders or disorders involving the aerodigestive tract that could cause swallowing disorders.
• Previous surgery of the neck or involving the aerodigestive tract.

In the first phase, the study will recruit patients with diagnosis of goiter who are candidates to thyroidectomy and patients who have undergone thyroidectomy. Patients will be interviewed by the researchers. The interviews will face the symptoms of goiter or thyroidectomy, dealing (not exclusively) with throat and swallowing symptoms. The interviews will be recorded and analysed. The content of the interviews will be used to develop the items and the response categories of the questionnaire.

In the second phase, the study will recruit patients who are candidates for thyroidectomy. The questionnaire (and the other outcome measures of the study) will be administered to the patients before and after surgery. All patients who are candidates for thyroidectomy at the Istituto Auxologico Italiano in Milan, Italy, will be recruited (if they comply with inclusion and exclusion criteria and if they provide consent). General, clinical and surgical data will be collected.