- Based on thyroid biopsy, this patient presented for a total thyroidectomy due to thyroid carcinoma. The neck area was cleaned and draped in the usual fashion. Under general anesthesia, the patient had a cervical incision. A radical neck dissection was performed. After the muscles of the neck were separated, the gland was exposed. Direct visualization showed the gland to be cystic and nodular in nature. The right lobe of the gland was removed first, followed by the left lobe. The parathyroid glands were inspected and appeared to be normal. The thyroid gland in total was removed and sent to pathology for analysis. All bleeders were cauterized. The incision was closed in layers with staples and sutures