During a visit back to Vietnam for a general health check-up at Hoan My Sai Gon Hospital, Ms. T. (36 years old, a Vietnamese American) was unexpectedly found to have an 8 mm thyroid nodule. She was indicated for a biopsy, which showed suspected malignancy, and was promptly scheduled for surgery at Hoan My Sai Gon Hospital. Postoperative diagnosis confirmed early-stage cancer of the left thyroid lobe; this early diagnosis provided a golden window for effective intervention with a high success rate.

Minimally Invasive Surgery with Excellent Cosmetic Outcomes

Following a multidisciplinary consultation at the Oncology Department of Hoan My Sai Gon Hospital, Ms. T. underwent complete resection of the left thyroid lobe and isthmus through a 2cm skin incision, ensuring complete tumor removal while optimizing cosmetic results.

After surgery, doctors used biological adhesive instead of conventional sutures, helping the incision remain clean and dry, reducing infection risk, and facilitating postoperative care. The patient was discharged after just one day of hospitalization. Her recovery has been very positive, with normal speech and eating functions restored and the surgical wound healing well.

Rising Thyroid Cancer Trends in Vietnam

According to GLOBOCAN, in 2022 there were approximately 821,214 new cases of thyroid cancer worldwide, with an age-standardized incidence rate (ASIR) of 9.1 per 100,000 population. The incidence among women is nearly three times higher than in men (13.6 vs. 4.6 per 100,000).

In Vietnam, thyroid cancer has rapidly risen from the tenth to the sixth most common cancer, with more than 6,100 new cases annually, based on the latest GLOBOCAN data. Specialist Level I Dr. Huynh Thanh Hoa advised:

“If detected early, treatment may involve only partial thyroidectomy through a small, cosmetically favorable incision, or even endoscopic surgery, leaving little to no visible scarring. Whereas, delayed detection can lead to more complex surgery, potentially requiring total thyroidectomy or cervical lymph node dissection, meaning the patient may need lifelong hormone replacement therapy and, in some cases, additional radioactive iodine treatment.”

Regular health check-ups play a crucial role in the early detection of thyroid nodules. Early surgical intervention offers high treatment success rates, minimal invasiveness, and preservation of thyroid function, thereby ensuring better quality of life for patients. Thyroid cancer is one of the cancers with the most favorable prognoses when detected and treated early.