Greater Noida: ShardaCare Healthcity, an advanced tertiary care hospital in Greater Noida, successfully treated a 33-year-old woman, Ana Liza John from Jharkhand, currently residing in Greater Noida, who was diagnosed with an unusually large and advanced thyroid tumor that had spread across multiple levels of the neck. The tumor, measuring nearly 12 x 10 cm, had invaded more than 60 lymph nodes and was tightly wrapped around the recurrent laryngeal nerve, which controls the patient’s voice. She could have lost her voice; however, the team of doctors performed a total thyroidectomy, bilateral neck node dissection, and central compartment clearance. The complex surgery was led by Dr. Hemkant Verma, Consultant Oncologist at ShardaCare Healthcity, who carried out a multi-step, high-precision procedure to remove the entire tumor while preserving the patient’s voice.
The patient initially visited an ENT specialist for ear pain and discharge, with no symptoms related to thyroid cancer. During the examination, the doctor noticed a painless swelling in her neck and advised an ultrasound. The scan raised suspicion of cancer, and an FNAC needle biopsy confirmed thyroid malignancy. Further CT imaging showed extensive lymph node metastasis on both sides of the neck. The oncology and surgical team performed a total thyroidectomy, bilateral neck node dissection, and central compartment clearance to remove the extensively spread disease. The surgery was highly complex due to the tumor’s large size, deep invasion into neck structures, and its tight encasement of the recurrent laryngeal nerve responsible for voice. One affected parathyroid gland was removed and reimplanted into the neck muscle to prevent lifelong calcium deficiency. Despite these challenges, the team achieved complete tumor removal while successfully preserving the patient’s natural voice.
Dr. Hemkant Verma, Consultant Oncologist at ShardaCare Healthcity, said, “Any neck swelling, even if painless, should be evaluated promptly. This tumor was large, aggressive, and had spread extensively. Its close involvement with the recurrent laryngeal nerve made the surgery particularly high-risk. Our goal was complete cancer removal while preserving her voice — and we successfully achieved both.” He added, “Thyroid cancer often progresses silently, making early diagnosis crucial, especially in younger individuals. Therefore, strengthening awareness is essential for timely intervention.”
Following surgery, the patient experienced mild neck stiffness, which improved with physiotherapy. Her long-term care plan includes regular oncology follow-ups, radioactive iodine therapy six weeks after surgery, lifelong thyroid hormone replacement, and continued neck and shoulder exercises to maintain mobility. She has shown steady and significant improvement during subsequent follow-up visits.
Kousar Shah, Group CEO, ShardaCare Healthcity, said, “This case exemplifies our commitment to advanced oncology care. Managing such a complex and high-risk thyroid cancer case highlights the expertise of our surgical team and the strength of our multidisciplinary approach.”
The patient and her family expressed profound gratitude to the medical team for their expertise, compassion, and life-saving care.
