Surgical options for thyroid tumours

Standard of care for suspected cancer
- Thyroid lobectomy
- Total thyroidectomy
Lesser surgery a consideration when
- Diagnostic tests such as FNAC and U/S are not available
- Patients cannot access thyroid or calcium monitoring and replacement
- Surgical options
  - Open biopsy and await histology before planning definitive surgery
  - Nodulectomy (no referral possible, isthmic and anterior placed nodules rather than posterior which makes repeat surgery difficult and dangerous)
  - Subtotal thyroidectomy
Neck dissections
- Central neck dissection
- Lateral neck dissection