Surgical Considerations in Thyroid Cancer: What the Radiologist Needs to Know

Management of thyroid cancer requires a multidisciplinary approach including head and neck/endocrine surgeons, endocrinologists, oncologists, and radiologists. The radiographic evaluation of thyroid cancer is critical for complete and precise staging and affects the surgical approach to address these cancers. The purpose of this article is to briefly review the common thyroid cancer pathologies and surgical considerations in thyroid cancer, focusing on the extent of surgery and the influence of preoperative imaging on surgical decision-making. This article assumes that a diagnosis of thyroid cancer has been made and does not discuss the workup or surveillance of thyroid nodules.