Abstract

Purpose: The optimal management of completion thyroidectomy after the unexpected diagnosis of misdiagnosed thyroid cancer by means of morbidity and indication. Materials and methods: 30 patients with unexpected diagnosis of thyroid cancer who received completion thyroidectomy were retrospectively reviewed from 2002 to 2005. Rate of residual misdiagnosed cancer and postoperative early and late complications were evaluated. Results: We reviewed the records of 30 patients who underwent completion thyroidectomy because of unexpected diagnosis of well differentiated thyroid cancer. 23 of the patients were women and 7 men with a median age of 49.5 (19 – 75). Residual malignancy was found in 9 patients (30%) after completion thyroidectomy and four patients had lymph node metastases. In seven patients (23.3%) the malignancy was localized in the contralateral lobe. The postoperative morbidity in completion thyroidectomy consisted of transient hypoparathyroidism in five patients (16.6%) (Ca<8mg/dl) and in one patient permanent hypoparathyroidism (longer than 6 months). There was no recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy. Conclusion: For misdiagnosed well differentiated thyroid cancers completion thyroidectomy can be done safely with acceptable morbidity.