After the discharge
After discharge, physical rest for 2-3 weeks is recommended. Regular dressing changes are important. 10-14 days after the operation a (wound) check is carried out in my ordination and in the course of this, any questions are answered and the thyroid medication is adjusted after the final histology is available.
The dosage of thyroid hormones depends on the extent of the resection and is usually only necessary temporarily. In the case of total thyroidectomy, thyroid replacement therapy in the form of hormone replacement must be taken permanently. 6 weeks after the thyroid hormones have been prescribed, the thyroid values are again determined to fine-tune the medication. Please do not take any thyroid medication on the day of the blood draw. Another blood sample will be taken after one year. Sonography should also be performed at this time.
Radioiodine ablation
In the case of follicular or papillary thyroid carcinomas larger than 1 cm, radioiodine therapy should be followed a few weeks after the operation. If the tumor size is less than 1 cm, it is a micro-carcinoma that does not require any further treatment, only consistent follow-up care. Strict iodine abstinence must be observed between the operation and the implementation of radioiodine therapy. This is the only way radioiodine therapy can work.
Medullary thyroid carcinoma does not require any follow-up treatment and can only be followed up consistently with ultrasound and calcitonin determination.
Other types of carcinoma require a multimodal therapy concept that is individually set in the tumor board.
Follow-up care: depending on the diagnosis: sonography, scintigraphy, thyroid values (tumor markers) in the blood.