Should I do a unilateral or total thyroidectomy for thyroid cancer

Whether unilateral or total thyroidectomy is appropriate for patients with thyroid cancer needs to be comprehensively judged based on the pathological type, size, presence or absence of lymph node metastasis, etc. It is recommended that patients go to the hospital for treatment in a timely manner and choose the appropriate surgical method under the guidance of a doctor.

1. Papillary carcinoma: If it is papillary carcinoma, it is usually less malignant and the tumor grows slowly. In general, unilateral thyroidectomy can be considered, and regular follow-up after surgery is sufficient;

2. Follicular carcinoma: If it is follicular carcinoma, it is usually of moderate malignancy and the tumor grows rapidly. In general, it requires complete resection and postoperative iodine-131 radiotherapy.

3. Medullary carcinoma: If it is medullary carcinoma, it is highly malignant and the tumor grows rapidly. It usually requires complete resection and adjuvant treatment such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy after surgery.

4. Undifferentiated cancer: If it is undifferentiated cancer, it is extremely malignant and the tumor grows very fast. Generally, a complete resection is required, and auxiliary treatments such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy are required after the operation.

In addition to the above situations, if the patient has a recurrence of thyroid cancer, he or she may need to undergo another total resection. For some patients with severe conditions, such as distant metastasis, surgical treatment may not be possible. At this time, the patient needs to follow the doctor's advice to use chemotherapy drugs such as cyclophosphamide for injection and doxorubicin hydrochloride for injection.