In conjunction with our surgical pathologists, the Endocrine Surgery program provides overnight pathology for thyroid patients for patients undergoing thyroid lobectomy (removal of one half lobe of the thyroid gland). While a pathologist may perform an initial thyroid tissue evaluation (frozen section) during surgery, a more comprehensive analysis is still necessary to produce a final pathology report. In rare cases, if the final report shows cancer in tissue that was initially thought to be cancer-free, the patient may need another operation to remove the entire thyroid gland.
In most hospitals, the final pathology report is produced several days after initial thyroid surgery. Therefore, if a patient needs a second operation to remove the remaining thyroid gland, he or she must be readmitted to the hospital. Froedtert & the 91ɫƵ Endocrine Cancer Program pathologists have committed to providing the final pathology for thyroid patients in less than 24 hours. That way, if a patient needs an additional surgery, it may be done during the same hospital stay - typically the day after the initial surgery.
View more information on our thyroid program page and on the .