REVIEWS   

Minerva Endocrinologica 2000 September-December;25(3-4):75-80

Copyright © 2000 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English

Medullary thyroid carcinoma. Natural history and surgical treatment

Giammanco M.

In the present review the Author examines the natural history, clinical aspects, diagnostic aspects and surgical treatment representing the therapy for medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC), with particular stress on the recommendation that a meticulous total thyroidectomy is always indicated, without leaving any residual thyroid gland tissue. Lymphadenecto-my of the central part of neck is also recommended, with the abstraction of the jugular chain lymph nodes. In the case of positivity of one of those lymph nodes, it is necessary to perform a functional cervico-mediastinic lymphadenectomy.