Oncologist Describes Surgical Treatment of Follicular Thyroid Cancer

Oncologist Describes Surgical Treatment of Follicular Thyroid Cancer

by Dr. Suvadip Chakrabarti

Posted on 28th March, 2023 at 5:55:08 AM


The correct surgical procedure is determined by the type of follicular thyroid cancer, the patient’s assessment, and the surgeon’s experience. The most crucial thing is that the initial operation removes all of the follicular thyroid cancer from the neck! That operation is typically minimally invasive, requiring only a small incision in the lower front of the neck, about an inch long. However, that isn’t the purpose. The problem is that all follicular thyroid cancer must be removed completely at the time of initial surgery.

Luckily, Dr. Suvadip Chakrabarti, considered to be the best thyroid cancer doctor in Kolkata will do the correct operation from the start. Surgery is by far the most common first treatment for follicular thyroid carcinoma. In many cases, follicular thyroid cancer surgery is not only the primary but often the only therapy option.

Types of Surgical Treatment for Thyroid Cancer

There are three basic forms of thyroid gland surgery that can be used to treat follicular thyroid cancer:

  • The first is a thyroid lobectomy, which involves removing nearly half of the thyroid gland.
  • The other option is a complete thyroidectomy, which involves removing the entire thyroid gland.
  • An extended thyroidectomy is the third type of thyroidectomy, in which cancer that has spread outside the thyroid gland needs to be removed.

Lobectomy of the Thyroid Gland

About half of the thyroid gland is removed during this procedure. Unless the thyroid tumor requires a longer incision to be “delivered,” a minor incision in the lower neck, about one inch in length, is necessary, says the experienced oncologist in Kolkata. All of the vital structures on the side of the excised thyroid lobe are preserved, including the parathyroid glands (calcium-regulating glands) and the nerves that control movement and feeling in the voice box. During this procedure, the lymph nodes along the side and beneath the thyroid gland are also inspected to ensure that they are not malignant. When nodules are present on both sides of the thyroid gland, a thyroid lobectomy is generally not suggested (both lobes possess nodules).

Complete Thyroidectomy

The entire thyroid gland is removed during this procedure. Unless the thyroid tumor requires a longer incision to be “delivered,” a minor incision in the lower neck, about one inch in length, is necessary. The incision for a whole thyroidectomy is no longer than that for a thyroid lobectomy. All four parathyroid glands, as well as all four nerves that provide movement (recurrent laryngeal nerves) and sensation to the voice box, are preserved on both sides of the thyroid (superior laryngeal nerves). During this procedure, the lymph nodes along the side and beneath the thyroid gland are also inspected to ensure that they are not malignant.

Complicated or Extended Thyroidectomy

Prior to surgery, ultrasonography or CT imaging may reveal that follicular thyroid carcinoma is more aggressive than previously thought. In these cases, the experienced thyroid cancer surgeon in Kolkata must adapt the surgery to adequately address the complete removal of cancer outside of the thyroid gland, such as growth or extension of cancer outside of the thyroid gland, or invasion of cancer into adjacent structures such as the nerve to the voice box (recurrent laryngeal nerve), breathing tube (trachea), voice box, or esophagus. Unfortunately, seldom thyroid surgeons are sometimes unprepared to execute the necessary procedure, necessitating a second surgery for persistent disease.

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