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Should A Thyroid Nodule Be Removed Completely?
Question: I had surgery two weeks ago. The doctor remove just the nodule because it was small and it was encapsulated. Cold test were done before surgery was over . they said that was good , so there was no need of removing the entire thyroid. The Nodule was sent for further evaluation. First result The doctor said that it was benign but it was sent to another doctor for a second opinion. Now the other expert said that was papillary carcinoma. They send it for third opinon. Should I remove half of my thyroid were the nodule was?
Should I removed the entire thyroid? or Should I wait to see if it appears again before I get another surgery? What are the risk of waiting?
Should I removed the entire thyroid? or Should I wait to see if it appears again before I get another surgery? What are the risk of waiting?
Brief Answer:
may preserve the other half
Detailed Answer:
Hi
Thanks for your query.
Even if it is cancer, in case of small encapsulated papillary carcinoma, we can preserve one lobe, provided, size < 1.5 cm, no nodule in other half on Ultrasound, no suspicious lymph nodes and margins negative.
Probably you fit all above criteria. So I feel it can be preserved. But stringent followup is required to detect any recurrence early so that then we can re-operate. Small chance of recurrence - 5 to 10% will be there even if you fit all the criteria. But if detected early, then still remains curable.
Hope this helps.
Regards
may preserve the other half
Detailed Answer:
Hi
Thanks for your query.
Even if it is cancer, in case of small encapsulated papillary carcinoma, we can preserve one lobe, provided, size < 1.5 cm, no nodule in other half on Ultrasound, no suspicious lymph nodes and margins negative.
Probably you fit all above criteria. So I feel it can be preserved. But stringent followup is required to detect any recurrence early so that then we can re-operate. Small chance of recurrence - 5 to 10% will be there even if you fit all the criteria. But if detected early, then still remains curable.
Hope this helps.
Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thanks so much for your prompt response and it help me to understand better.
I still have all my thyroid(both lobes)
If it is cancer,. Should I remove half or just wait if it appears again? I do nothing just wait The probability of a new one is the same 5% to 10%
I still have all my thyroid(both lobes)
If it is cancer,. Should I remove half or just wait if it appears again? I do nothing just wait The probability of a new one is the same 5% to 10%
Brief Answer:
no at least half of thyroid removal required
Detailed Answer:
If it is cancer, then removing only nodule is surely not enough. At the least, half of thyroid gland should be removed.
If only nodule removed, chances of recurrence much higher.
no at least half of thyroid removal required
Detailed Answer:
If it is cancer, then removing only nodule is surely not enough. At the least, half of thyroid gland should be removed.
If only nodule removed, chances of recurrence much higher.
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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