Thyroid cancer

1. Big picture

Thyroid cancer is a malignant tumor arising from thyroid follicular cells or parafollicular C cells. Surgically, the key issue is not simply “remove the thyroid,” but to decide:

1. Is the nodule malignant or suspicious?
2. What histological type is likely?
3. Is disease confined to thyroid, or are lymph nodes/distant metastases present?
4. Is lobectomy enough, or is total thyroidectomy needed?
5. Does the patient need central/lateral neck dissection?
6. Does the patient need radioactive iodine, thyroid-stimulating hormone suppression, calcitonin follow-up, or palliative airway management?

Most thyroid cancers are **differentiated thyroid cance