Which surgery involves the removal of the entire thyroid parenchyma?

Total thyroidectomy refers to the complete removal of the thyroid gland, which includes the entire thyroid parenchyma. This procedure is often indicated in cases of thyroid cancer, multinodular goiter, or when there is a significant risk of malignancy. By removing the whole gland, the surgery aims to ensure that all potentially cancerous tissue is excised and to prevent any recurrence of thyroid disease.

In contrast, a partial thyroidectomy involves the removal of only a part of the thyroid gland, such as a lobe or a segment, while a thyroid lobectomy removes one lobe of the gland, sparing the other. A thyroid isthmusectomy, on the other hand, involves removing only the isthmus, which is the thin connective tissue between the two lobes of the thyroid. These other procedures do not achieve the same comprehensive removal as a total thyroidectomy and are performed for different indications.