Thyroid Cancer Surgery: An Overview
Surgery is the most common
treatment for thyroid cancer. Surgery may be used to remove all or part of the thyroid. The type of thyroid surgery performed will depend on factors such as:
Common surgical options for thyroid cancer include total thyroidectomy and
lobectomy (removal of one lobe).
Total Thyroidectomy
Surgery to remove the entire thyroid is called a total thyroidectomy. The surgeon will remove the thyroid through an incision in the neck; the surgeon may also remove nearby lymph nodes. If the pathologist finds cancer cells in the lymph nodes, it means that the disease could spread to other parts of the body. In a small number of cases, the surgeon will remove other tissues in the neck that have been affected by the cancer.
Some patients who have a total thyroidectomy may also receive radioactive iodine or external radiation therapy.
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