Surgery for thyroid cancer

Find out how surgery for thyroid cancer can effectively treat the condition and what procedures are typically involved.

Learn more about:

• Overview
• Types of thyroid surgery
• What to expect after thyroid surgery
• Further treatment after surgery

Overview

Surgery is the most common treatment for thyroid cancer. You will be given a general anaesthetic, and the surgeon will make a cut (usually 3–5 cm) across your neck. How much tissue and how many lymph nodes are removed will depend on how far the cancer has spread. See Types of thyroid surgery.

You usually stay in hospital for 1–2 nights, but it may be a little longer. The wound will have stitches, adhesive strips or small clips and you’ll be told how to avoid an infection.

Tissue removed during surgery is tested to find the type of cancer, whether it has spread to nearby lymph nodes and if you need other treatment. More surgery is sometimes needed to remove other tissue, any remaining thyroid or the thymus gland.

If the whole thyroid is removed, you will need thyroid hormone replacement therapy. Some people who have part of their thyroid removed will also need thyroid hormone replacement therapy. Depending on the type and stage of thyroid cancer, you may need RAI treatment or, in rare cases, other treatments.

Types of thyroid surgery

	Partial thyroidectomy Only the affected lobe or section of the thyroid is removed. Used for small cancers, smaller papillary cancers, and if the lobe without the cancer looks normal. Also called a surgical biopsy if done because a fine needle biopsy doesn’t give a clear result. If a surgical biopsy shows cancer, you may need more surgery to remove all or part of your thyroid.
	Total thyroidectomy Many people with thyroid cancer need a total thyroidectomy. The whole thyroid, both lobes and the isthmus are removed. Sometimes a small amount of thyroid tissue may be left in a near-total thyroidectomy.
	Lymph node removal With either type of surgery, nearby lymph nodes may also be removed. This may be to check if cancer has spread, or if scans suggest cancer has spread to the lymph nodes. Sometimes the nodes behind the thyroid are removed to reduce the risk of cancer coming back.

Learn more about surgery.

→ READ MORE: What to expect after thyroid surgery

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