Prophylactic thyroidectomy: who needs it, when, and why.

The most common hereditary thyroid cancer is medullary thyroid cancer, which can be associated with MEN 2A, MEN 2B, or FMTC. In these patients, prophylactic thyroidectomy is recommended; timing of surgery is dependent on the specific RET mutation. Prophylactic thyroidectomy should include total thyroidectomy and accompanying central compartment neck dissection should be done for patients at high risk for micro-metastatic disease only. Surgery should be performed at tertiary care institutions by high-volume thyroid surgeons.