The thyroid gland, a small gland in the lower front neck comprised of two lobes, regulates metabolism. Follicular thyroid cancer, a malignancy of the cells that use iodine to make thyroid hormone, occurs more often in regions where people lack iodine in their diet, reports American Cancer Society. This slowly growing type is the second most common thyroid cancer, comprising 15 percent of cases. The survival rates are very good. The treatment chosen depends on the extent of the disease.
Lobectomy
A lobectomy, removal of the lobe containing cancer, is used for follicular thyroid cancer occurring in one lobe that has not spread beyond the gland, reports the National Cancer Institute. Typically, the isthmus, a narrow band of tissue connecting the two thyroid lobes, is removed as well.
Thyroidectomy
Thyroidectomy, surgery that takes out all or part of the thyroid gland, is used for more extensive follicular thyroid cancer, explains the American Cancer Society. Removing the entire gland is called a total thyroidectomy, while taking part of it is called a subtotal, or partial, thyroidectomy.
Removal of Lymph Nodes
Usually, follicular thyroid cancer is confined to the thyroid gland and is unlikely to spread to the lymph nodes, reports the American Cancer Society. However, if a patient has one or two enlarged lymph nodes, they may be removed.
Radioactive Iodine
Radioactive iodine is used to treat follicular cancer, a type of cancer with differentiated cells, which are mature and resemble normal cells, reports the American Cancer Society. These thyroid cells are able to take up the radioactive iodine, which destroys them, thus removing any microscopic cancer cells missed by surgery.
