Which procedure describes excision of a thyroid lobe along with part of the opposite lobe and the isthmus?

• A. Subtotal thyroidectomy
• B. Thyroid lobectomy - contralateral (opposite side) subtotal
• C. Total thyroidectomy
• D. Parathyroidectomy

Answer: (B)

The key idea is understanding how thyroid surgeries are described by how much gland is removed on each side. The scenario specifies removing an entire lobe on one side and taking out part of the opposite lobe along with the isthmus. That pattern fits a lobectomy on one side with a subtotal (partial) resection of the opposite side, which is captured by the phrase thyroid lobectomy with contralateral subtotal. It acknowledges a complete removal on the operated side plus a partial removal on the other side, with the isthmus included in the procedure.

A total thyroidectomy would mean removing both lobes completely and the isthmus, which isn’t what’s described here. Subtotal thyroidectomy generally implies removing tissue from the gland as a whole but doesn’t specify a full lobectomy on one side with partial removal on the opposite. Parathyroidectomy targets the parathyroid glands, not the thyroid tissue.