Which statement regarding thyroid and parathyroid surgery is incorrect?

The statement that parathyroid glands should always be removed with the thyroid is incorrect because the management of parathyroid glands is distinctly separate from thyroid surgery. In most cases, if a patient requires thyroid surgery due to disease such as thyroid cancer or benign conditions, the parathyroid glands are not routinely removed unless there is an indication of hyperparathyroidism or if the parathyroids are affected during the dissection.

During thyroid surgery, the focus is on addressing the thyroid pathology while preserving the parathyroid glands to maintain the patient’s calcium metabolism and hormone levels. Removal of normal parathyroid glands can lead to postoperative complications, such as hypoparathyroidism, which would necessitate lifelong calcium and vitamin D supplementation. Therefore, the extent of surgery usually does not include the routine removal of parathyroid glands unless there is a specific reason to do so.

In contrast, the other statements reflect accepted clinical practices in thyroid and parathyroid surgery. The thyroid gland does not have to be completely removed in every case, but surgery often focuses on removing diseased portions. Furthermore, while thyroid surgery can carry risks, with advances in surgical techniques, these risks can be minimized. Hormone replacement therapy may indeed be necessary when a significant portion