Total Thyroidectomy For Thyroid Cancer

This is an intact specimen of the whole thyroid gland after Total Thyroidectomy.

There is a tumour in the centre part of the gland which is called the Isthmus.

The tumour happens to be a Thyroid Cancer which is diagnosed by a biopsy technique called Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology.

Although the cancer just involve the isthmus, but to effectively treat thyroid cancer, a total Thyroidectomy is necessary.

Post total Thyroidectomy, patient will be rendered Hypothyroid, which means the thyroid hormone level is below normal. In order to sustain normal living,patients have to consume daily thyroxine hormones for life.

Quite often patients will ask what happen if they unwittingly forget to take the hormone tablets. Since the half-life of thyroxine is about 1 week, missing tablets for one or two days is of no consequent as long as its not more than 1 week.

It is noted that many surgeons are not keen to perform Thyroidectomy, especially Total Thyroidectomy in the private sector setting for 2 main reasons;

1. (Total) Thyrodectomy carries real risk of Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve injury which may affect voice changes postoperatively