37-year-old undergoes complex repeat thyroid surgery seven years after an earlier operation
Hyderabad, September 20, 2026: A 37-year-old woman from Sudan with a massive thyroid swelling extending from her neck into the chest has undergone complex surgery at CARE Hospitals, Hitech City, Hyderabad.
The woman had been living with swelling in the front of her neck for nearly a year before travelling to Hyderabad for specialised treatment. Medical evaluation revealed significant enlargement of the thyroid, with the right lobe measuring approximately 15×10 cm and extending into the mediastinum — the central area of the chest containing several vital structures.
The case was particularly challenging as the patient had undergone thyroid surgery seven years earlier. Repeat surgery in the same area can be technically difficult because scar tissue may alter the normal anatomy and make it harder for surgeons to safely navigate around critical structures.
A multidisciplinary team led by Dr Rahul Reddy Levaka, Senior Consultant Surgical Oncologist, CARE Hospitals, Hitech City, along with Dr Ajay Chanakya and Dr Ramu Damuluri, planned the procedure.
The patient underwent a total thyroidectomy under general anaesthesia. The team removed the enlarged thyroid from the neck, while the portion extending into the chest was addressed through Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery (VATS).
The minimally invasive thoracoscopic approach helped surgeons separate the intrathoracic portion of the thyroid from critical structures in the mediastinum, including major blood vessels, before safely removing it.
“The challenge was not just the size of the thyroid swelling. Since the patient had undergone surgery seven years ago, we were operating through scar tissue and altered anatomy. A significant part of the thyroid was also extending into the chest, requiring careful planning and meticulous dissection through minimally invasive thoracoscopic surgery,” said Dr Rahul Reddy Levaka.
The surgery was completed successfully, and the patient remained stable following the procedure. She recovered well and was subsequently discharged with follow-up advice.
Doctors said large thyroid swellings may initially remain painless and can grow gradually without causing significant symptoms. However, when they become very large or extend into the chest, they can potentially exert pressure on the airway, oesophagus and surrounding structures.
“Not every thyroid swelling is cancerous, but any persistent or increasing neck swelling needs proper medical evaluation,” Dr Rahul said.
Symptoms such as a progressively increasing neck swelling, difficulty swallowing, breathing discomfort, persistent changes in voice or a feeling of pressure in the neck or chest should prompt medical evaluation, particularly in people who have previously undergone thyroid surgery.
Dr Pramod Gupta, Chief Operating Officer, CARE Hospitals, Hitech City, said complex cases require coordinated care involving experienced specialists and multiple clinical teams.
“We continue to see patients from India and overseas coming to Hyderabad for specialised treatment. Our focus is to ensure comprehensive care from evaluation and treatment through recovery and follow-up,” he said.
Doctors also stressed that the presence of a thyroid mass does not automatically mean cancer. Clinical examination, appropriate imaging and, where required, pathological evaluation are necessary to determine the nature of a thyroid swelling.