[When is total thyroidectomy indicated? What applies in thyroid carcinoma: radical surgery according to findings]

Today, surgical treatment of thyroid carcinoma is oriented to the underlying histology and the extent of the tumourous process. Total thyroidectomy with postoperative radioiodine treatment represents only one of the spectrum of possibilities that ranges from limited to extended radical interventional procedures. Such an individualized operative strategy should be applied not only for the primary intervention, but also for locoregional tumour recurrence and confirmed distant metastases, with the aim of keeping operative morbidity to a minimum.