Thyroid Tumor Removal (Lobectomy / Total Thyroidectomy)

Thyroid surgery is performed to remove part or all of the thyroid gland when a tumor, nodule, or cancer is present. Dr. Antony Raj James has specialized training in head and neck oncology and extensive experience in thyroid surgery, including lobectomy and total thyroidectomy.

What is Thyroid Surgery?

The thyroid gland sits at the front of the neck and has two lobes connected by an isthmus. Thyroid surgery may involve:

• Thyroid Lobectomy (Hemithyroidectomy) – Removal of one lobe of the thyroid gland. Performed for benign nodules, indeterminate thyroid tumors, or selected low-risk thyroid cancers where complete thyroid removal is not required.
• Total Thyroidectomy – Complete removal of both lobes of the thyroid gland. Performed for thyroid cancers, large multinodular goitres, or when bilateral disease is present.
• Completion Thyroidectomy – Removal of the remaining thyroid lobe following a previous lobectomy, when cancer is confirmed on final pathology.

When is Thyroid Surgery Recommended?

Surgery is recommended for thyroid nodules or masses that are suspected or confirmed to be malignant, for large goitres causing compressive symptoms, or for thyroid tumors with indeterminate cytology where surgical excision and pathological analysis are required for diagnosis. The extent of surgery is guided by preoperative assessment, ultrasound, and fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) findings.

Protecting the Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve and Parathyroid Glands

Careful preservation of the recurrent laryngeal nerves (which control vocal cord movement) and parathyroid glands (which regulate calcium) is a critical aspect of thyroid surgery. Dr. James performs meticulous dissection with attention to nerve and parathyroid preservation to minimize the risk of post-operative voice change or calcium disturbance.

Multidisciplinary Cancer Care

For thyroid cancers, treatment planning involves endocrinology, nuclear medicine (for radioiodine treatment), oncology, and pathology in addition to surgery. Dr. James participates in multidisciplinary discussions to ensure appropriate surgical and adjuvant treatment planning.

Why Choose Dr. Antony Raj James?

• Specialized Head & Neck Oncology Training – MCh in Head & Neck Oncology from Tata Memorial Hospital/ACTREC, Mumbai.
• Extensive Thyroid Surgery Experience – Lobectomy, total thyroidectomy, and completion thyroidectomy.
• Nerve and Parathyroid Preservation – Meticulous surgical technique to reduce risk of voice and calcium complications.
• Multidisciplinary Approach – Integrated thyroid cancer management with endocrinology and oncology teams.