What is the length of the scar from hemisection of thyroid cancer

After hemisection of thyroid cancer, the length of the scar is usually related to the surgical method, such as total resection, subtotal resection, subtotal resection, and neck lymph node dissection. Different methods have different requirements for scar length, so it is recommended to make the corresponding selection under the guidance of a doctor.

1. Total resection: Total resection refers to the removal of both sides of the thyroid gland. Because there are trachea, esophagus, and neck blood vessels around the thyroid gland, the incision length of total resection is relatively long, up to 4-5cm. If the patient's skin defect is relatively large, a flap transfer can be performed to make the suture line between the local flap and the residual thyroid gland thinner, reduce the incision diameter, and facilitate subsequent surgical operations;

2. Subtotal resection: Subtotal resection refers to the removal of most of the thyroid gland, leaving the smaller gland on one side. Because there are lymph nodes around the thyroid gland, the incision for subtotal resection is relatively small, with a length of 6-7cm. For patients with recurrent laryngeal nerve damage during surgery, recurrent laryngeal nerve repair can also be performed;

3. Subtotal resection: Subtotal resection refers to the removal of lymph nodes around the gland while preserving most of the thyroid gland. Since the subtotal incision is relatively more beautiful and hidden, the scar length is shorter than that of total resection.

4. Neck lymph node dissection: It is mainly for patients with thyroid cancer metastasized to the neck lymph nodes. The specific range of dissection is from behind the ear along the internal jugular vein to the supraclavicular lymph nodes. During the dissection, the neck lymph nodes should be made negative as much as possible, which is conducive to preventing the recurrence of neck lymph nodes after surgery. Routinely, 12 lymph nodes need to be dissected.

After surgical treatment of thyroid cancer patients, it is recommended that they follow the doctor's advice to go to the hospital's thyroid surgery department for regular follow-up examinations to complete serum calcium, calcitonin, parathyroid hormone, neck ultrasound and other examinations to evaluate postoperative recovery.