Subtotal resection is a type of surgery in which part of the tissue of the operated organ is retained in order to preserve part of the organ’s function, as opposed to total resection, and is usually seen in the thyroid or uterus.
Subtotal thyroidectomy involves removal of the diseased left or right thyroid lobe and the isthmus of the thyroid gland, preserving the normal lobe on the other side. It is indicated for hyperthyroidism, simple goiter requiring surgery and removal of a mass in only one lobe, and thyroid adenoma or cyst.
Subtotal hysterectomy is used when the cervical examination is normal and the extent of removal includes the fundus and body of the uterus, preserving the cervix. It is commonly performed for fibroids, adenomyomas and functional uterine bleeding, or in cases where the uterus needs to be removed but cervical excision is difficult for individual reasons.