European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

EVALUATING THE SURGICAL DECISION FOR A FOLLICULAR THYROID LESION, IS THE INITIAL HEMITHYROIDECTOMY SUFFICIENT? A RETROSPECTIVE STUDY IN JORDAN

*Ahmad Almaqableh MD., Tariq Al Shoufi MD., Amer Alsoukhni MD., Ala Alzrigat MD., Ahmad Tefah MD., Alaa Albadaina MD.

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Follicular thyroid tumor is a differentiated tumor raised from the thyroid gland, and Fine Needle Aspiration cannot assess its level of malignancy. Because of that, the Surgical decision is debatable initially, to remove all or half of the gland. Our main object to assess the role of initial hemithyroidectomy in case of thyroid follicular lesion. Methodology: our study is A retrospective study of 250 patients who underwent hemithyroidectomy for follicular thyroid tumor. The study was conducted at King Hussien Medical Hospital over 2 years duration from April 2023 to May 2025. Retrospectively, we collect the data from patients' files and the HAKEEM electronic medical record system, patients' age and gender, types of thyroid tumor, ultrasonic grade of TIRAD, pathological result of FNA, and finally the histological result of the resected thyroid lobe. All data were collected, registered, and analyzed. Inclusive criteria were any unilateral follicular thyroid lesion with any TIRAD level (Thyroid Imaging Reporting and Data system), whereas the exclusion criteria were tumors with extra-thyroid extension, involving cervical lymphadenopathy, bilateral pathology, and tumors arising from the thyroid isthmus. After surgery, we assess the histological type of the resected lobe, whether it is a benign or malignant mass, and the need for total thyroidectomy as a completion surgery. SPSS statistical software was used to measure the mean and standard deviation, and to perform the Chi-square test and T-test. Results: A total of 250 patients who underwent hemithyroidectomy for thyroid follicular tumors were included in the study. The mean age group was 34 +- 0.35 years with a male-to-female ratio of 1:3. The mean tumor size was 3.5 cm, and the extrathyroid invasion was only seen in 5%, while nodal involvement was 2% only. Complications after surgery were seen in 7% with a non-significant P value, and most of the complications were related to skin scar 5% and RLN injury was seen in 1%. No patient suffered from respiratory distress or hypocalcemia. Conclusion: We conclude that performing Hemithyroidectomy among patients with follicular lesions with low malignancy risk carries good overall surgical results and lower complication risk.

Keywords: hemithyroidectomy, follicular thyroid tumor.