Rahim Dhanani
Dr Rahim Dhanani is a consultant ENT and Head & Neck surgeon at Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, with specialist training in head and neck oncology, microvascular reconstruction, and endocrine (thyroid and parathyroid) surgery. He completed his postgraduate training at Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, followed by advanced fellowships at Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital, Lahore, and at leading tertiary centres in the United Kingdom, including University College London Hospital and University Hospital Birmingham. His work spans complex head and neck cancer surgery, thyroid and parathyroid disease, and oncologic reconstruction, with contributions to the peer-reviewed literature in these areas. Dr Dhanani is actively involved in academic and surgical education and is a founding member and inaugural General Secretary of the Pakistan Head & Neck Society. He has also been the recipient of several competitive international scholarships, including from Harvard Medical School and ENT UK.
Session
Diseases of the thyroid and parathyroid glands—both endocrine organs—are frequently encountered in worldwide. Approximately 5–15% of all thyroid nodules are malignant in nature. Thyroid cancers account for about 90% of all endocrine neoplasms. Reported rates of metastasis to the central and lateral neck compartments in thyroid cancers range from 20% to 80%.
Diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up of diseases of these organs require a multidisciplinary approach involving Endocrinology, Nuclear Medicine, Pathology, and Surgery. In recent years, various surgical approaches such as lobectomy, total thyroidectomy, central lymph node dissection, and minimally invasive thyroidectomy have been applied, differing from past practices. With the advancement of technology, endoscopic and robotic surgery have also been introduced into thyroid surgery in recent years.
Although guidelines set forth by the American and European Thyroid Associations exist for surgical management of thyroid diseases, different surgical practices are preferred in various parts of the world. Due to the location of the thyroid in the neck and the potential complications of its surgery—such as recurrent or superior laryngeal nerve injury, tracheal or laryngeal trauma, and swallowing difficulties—this topic is of particular importance to the specialties of Otorhinolaryngology and Head & Neck Surgery.
The most effective way to avoid complications is a thorough knowledge of the surgical anatomy of these organs and mastery of surgical techniques.
In this course, current thyroid surgery techniques and methods to prevent possible complications will be presented, accompanied by visual educational materials.