The thyroid is composed of two lobes. They sit on either end of the windpipe (or trachea). An isthmus joins the two lobes. One thyroid lobe is removed, and the isthmus is removed during a thyroidectomy. A doctor may perform a lobectomy to treat hyperthyroidism caused by a single toxic tumour.
A lobectomy may also be used to remove a tumour or thyroid nodule. A lobectomy allows the thyroid to continue to produce sufficient thyroid hormone by removing only one lobe. If the thyroid nodule is found to have cancer, the rest of it is usually removed later.
Sometimes, surgeons can perform a lobectomy without testing for thyroid cancer. If it is determined that thyroid cancer is probable, surgeons may perform a total thyroidectomy. This involves the complete removal of the whole thyroid.
Lobectomy is generally performed under general anaesthesia. However, it is possible to have local anaesthesia and sedation. The best option for your situation will depend on you and your doctors. The surgeon makes small incisions to remove the thyroid and isthmus. To avoid visible scarring, the incision is made in the crease.
During lobectomy, the physician closely monitors the surrounding structures, such as parathyroid glands that help to control calcium levels in the body and the recurrent laryngeal nerve that provides movement to your voice box (the larynx), enabling you to speak.
The incision is closed with dissolved stitches after removing the thyroid lobes.
Basic facts on Thyroid Lobectomy
Table of Contents
- Very effective surgery for small to intermediate-sized (up to 4cm or 1.75in) papillary Thyroid Cancers
- Small cosmetic incisions
- Low blood calcium (hypoparathyroidism) is a sporadic risk.
- Outpatient surgery
- In 24 hours, you can resume your regular aerobic exercise and daily functions.
- Three weeks of no heavy lifting
- The ability to keep normal levels of thyroid hormones is made more accessible by the presence of residual thyroid tissue. Many patients don’t require thyroid medication. However, the thyroid tissue might still produce adequate thyroid hormone.
- Thyroglobulin levels are not effective in monitoring papillary thyroid cancers.
- The theoretical risk of injury is only one nerve controlling voicebox function.
- Robotic thyroid surgery can perform thyroid lobectomy, which is excellent and requires no recovery.
Who Qualifies For Thyroidectomy Or Thyroid Lobectomy?
Sometimes both a Thyroidectomy and Thyroid Lobectomy may be an option. Your choice of surgery will depend on your preference. We can help you choose the right one for your particular needs.
In other instances, such as those below, there is no clear indication that one type of surgery is better than another.
Let’s take, for instance:
It is often recommended that you have a thyroidectomy if you take thyroid hormone replacements or have multiple nodules.
A thyroid lobectomy is usually the best option for people suffering from diffuse thyroiditis (inflammation of the thyroid that causes hypothyroidism) or toxic nodules.
What You Can Expect from a Thyroid Lobectomy?
A thyroid lobectomy can be used to remove one or both of your thyroid lobes while leaving the other intact. This surgery may be performed if the thyroid lobes are not cancerous or causing symptoms. It is also used for excessive hormone production, such as that associated with hyperthyroidism.
If you have a thyroidectomy due to an undetermined biopsy result, we will take the tissue and send it to a pathologist. You might need to undergo another procedure to remove all cancerous tissue if cancer is detected.
The thyroid lobectomy is done under general anaesthesia. If you require hospitalization, our nursing staff is skilled at managing your post-operative care. We can even help you return to everyday life.
After a thyroid lobectomy, you will need to have your thyroid levels tested. Based on your results, you might need thyroid hormone substitution.
What to Expect After Surgery?
Many people who have undergone a lobectomy can go home the same day as the surgery. But, those who have had a total or partial thyroidectomy need to be admitted overnight. A few days of minor discomfort can occur, which can often be treated with pain medications.
A thyroidectomy is a procedure that stops or reduces the production of thyroxine. Your doctor will give you a synthetic hormone called “levothyroxine”, which must be taken daily. This medication is used to maintain a healthy metabolism and prevent hypothyroidism.
Doctors might prescribe levothyroxine for patients with thyroid cancer. This will keep the thyroid-stimulating hormonal levels low, or even wholly suppressed, to limit the growth of remaining thyroid cancer cells.
Some people can produce enough thyroxine following lobectomy, so they don’t require levothyroxine. NYU Langone’s endocrinologist evaluates your hormones after lobectomy to determine if medication is necessary.
Also read: Is Heel Pain: a Sign of Cancer?
How Thyroid Cancer Is Treated?
In many cases, a team consisting of several doctors creates a comprehensive treatment plan that integrates various types of treatments. This is multidisciplinary. The team might include a surgeon or radiation oncologist. Radiologists, nuclear medicine physicians and endocrinologists may also be involved in thyroid cancer. The team may also have other health care professionals such as nurse practitioners, nurses oncology, pharmacists or counsellors.
Thyroid cancer can be treated using one or several treatments. Here are some common treatments for thyroid carcinoma. Many factors influence the options and recommendations for treatment, including the type and severity of thyroid cancer, possible side effects, the patient’s preferences, overall health, and personal preferences. Make sure you take time to research your treatment options.
Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Talk to your healthcare team about what each treatment entails and what you can expect from the treatment. These talks are known as “shared decision-making.” It is when you and your doctor work together to determine the best treatments for you. Because there are so many options for treatment, shared decision-making can be critical in thyroid cancer.
Expert panels of physicians often recommend guidelines for cancer treatment. Although thyroid cancer is generally curable, different opinions can exist regarding how to treat it. This includes the choice of treatment and timing. Ask for a second opinion from your doctor before you start treatment. Patients should feel at ease with their chosen treatment plan and be sure to ask about clinical trials.
What Is The Preferred Treatment For Papillary And Total Thyroid Cancers?
Purposes
Thyroid cancer has been increasing in incidence each year. This has had a severe psychological and economic impact on both society and individuals. Based on data from thyroid cancer patients treated at Liaocheng People’s Hospital, 2015-2018, and with Chinese nationalities and regional characteristics, this study examined the debate about which initial thyroid surgical method, lobectomy (or total thyroidectomy), is most effective.
Methods
The Department of Thyroid Surgery has collected data on 2108 thyroid cancer patients. These patients were initially diagnosed and treated surgically. One thousand of these cases underwent open thyroidectomy + central lymph node dissection. 1107 were treated simultaneously with neck lateral.
Results
The average rate of metastasis in all patients was 57.23%—the lymph node metastasis to papillary tumour microcarcinoma, PTMC (was 48.97%). The metastasis proportion grew to 77.22% if the mass increased above 2 cm. The percentage of metastasis rose to 72.21% and 65.27%, respectively, when bilateral and multiple high-risk factors complicated the tumour. The metastasis rates were 67.08% when cancer broke through a capsule. As the tumour size increased, cervical metastasis rates ranged between 22.54% and 73.33%. This was a positive correlation. 49.32% of patients had lymph node metastasis in the lateral region of their cervical spine. T1c is the highest level of tumor diameter. 56.91% of cervical lymph node metastasis was seen. A total of 69.96% metastatic cases occurred above T1c.
Side Effects and Potential Risks of Thyroid Surgery
When your thyroid surgery is performed professionally, complications are much less likely. Thyroid surgery can often be completed in one day. The following are possible complications of thyroid surgery:
- Temporary and permanent hoarseness (or loss of voice) may occur. This could occur if the airway (voice box) is damaged by the breathing tube. This may also happen if nerves to the vocal cords (or larynx) are damaged in surgery. Your doctor should examine your vocal cords before surgery to ensure they are in good condition. (See Thyroid Cancer.
- Parathyroid glands are small glands that sit behind the thyroid and regulate calcium levels. This can cause low blood calcium levels, which can cause muscle spasms, tingling, and numbness.
- Excessive bleeding or formation of significant blood clots in the neck (called a Hematoma).
- Infection
General Information about Thyroid Cancer
- Thyroid cancer can be defined as a disease where malignant (cancerous) cells form in thyroid tissues.
- Thyroid nodules, most commonly found in thyroid glands, aren’t usually cancerous.
- There are various types of thyroid cancer.
- Risk factors for thyroid cancer include age, gender, radiation exposure, and other factors.
- Medullary thyroid cancer can sometimes be caused by a change to a gene passed down from one parent.
- Thyroid cancer signs include a lump or swelling in your neck.
- Thyroid cancer can be diagnosed using tests that examine the thyroid, neck and blood.
- Some factors influence prognosis, the chance of recovery, and treatment options.
What Is Total Lobectomy Thyroid??
A thyroidectomy involves the removal of one thyroid lobe and leaving the other intact. This surgery may be performed if the thyroid lobes are not cancerous or causing symptoms. It is also used to treat excess hormone production, such as that associated with hyperthyroidism.
What Are The Indications Of Thyroid Lobectomy Treatment?
The signs include thyroid cancer and multinodular, toxic adenomas, goitre displaying compressive symptoms, Graves’s syndrome that is not responsive or may not be advised for medical management, and people trying to become pregnant.
What Are Thyroid Lobectomy Side Effects?
Your thyroidectomy/thyroid lobectomy may cause temporary symptoms such as a sore throat, neck discomfort, difficulty swallowing, or a weak voice. The evening before your surgery, you will need to limit your diet. However, in most cases, it can be resumed the next day.
The risks of a thyroid lobectomy
A thyroid lobectomy, which is complex and requires experienced surgeons, is not an easy procedure. These complications could include the following:
- Heavy bleeding
- Infection
- Anesthesia adverse reaction
- Nerve damage to laryngeal nerves
- Parathyroid glands can be damaged.
Conclusion
A tumour genome’s evolution determines the degree of thyroid cancer malignancy. High neck lymph node metastasis rates occur in patients with poor prognoses. To reduce the risks of secondary surgery and improve the quality of patient life, it is recommended that patients receive at least a complete thyroidectomy + centrally dissected lymph node in China as their initial treatment. If the tumour size exceeds 1 cm, cervical lymph node metastasis can occur. We recommend lateral dissection.