Thyroid surgery removes all or part of the gland in your neck, which helps regulate metabolism by producing hormones. It's used to treat thyroid cancer, goiters and hyperthyroidism.
What is Thyroid Surgery?
Having thyroid surgery can be a challenging experience. During the operation, your surgeon may need to remove either all or a part of your thyroid gland, which is located in the front of your neck, and looks like a butterfly.
The gland controls metabolism, including heart rate and calorie burning. You can have peace of mind knowing that your medical team at Cape Fear Valley Health is committed to keeping you safe and healthy throughout the entire process.
During thyroid surgery, the amount of gland removed depends on the purpose. Partial removal may allow the gland to function normally, while total removal requires daily replacement therapy with thyroid hormone.
Am I a Candidate for Thyroid Surgery?
Millions of Americans suffer from thyroid gland diseases, which are quite prevalent. The most frequently occurring issues include:
- An overactive gland (called hyperthyroidism)
- An underactive gland (called hypothyroidism)
- Thyroid enlargement due to overactivity or from overactivity
- An enlarged gland, called a goiter
- Thyroid nodules within the thyroid gland
Your doctor may recommend thyroid surgery if you have conditions such as:
- Thyroid cancer. Thyroid surgery is often necessary for those with thyroid cancer. This involves the complete or partial removal of the thyroid gland.
- Noncancerous goiter. If you have a large goiter or thyroid nodules, removing part or all of the thyroid could be a solution.
- Overactive thyroid. Hyperthyroidism can cause overproduction of thyroxine hormone. If medication fails, thyroid surgery may be an option.
Suspicious thyroid nodules. If a needle biopsy can't determine whether a thyroid nodule is cancerous, surgery may be necessary for those at higher risk.
How is a Diagnosis Determined?
To diagnose thyroid issues, doctors conduct a medical history and physical exam and may use blood tests or imaging studies. Fine-needle aspiration may also be necessary.
When you go for your examination, your doctor will inspect your thyroid gland by observing your neck and asking you to swallow. Further testing might be necessary, such as an ultrasound of your neck and thyroid, chest X-ray, CT or MRI scan, or radioactive thyroid scan.
What to Expect With Thyroid Surgery
After the procedure, if you require medical attention, your surgeon will talk to you about it before being discharged.
Medications may include:
- Thyroid hormone replacement
- Calcium and/or vitamin D replacement
After surgery, some symptoms may not show up until two or three days later. If you notice any of the following, contact your surgeon or seek medical help.
- Numbness and tingling around the lips and hands
- Increased pain
- Fever
- Swelling
- Wound discharge
- Shortness of breath
If malignancy is detected, doctors may pause thyroid replacement medication to allow for a radioactive scan to detect any remaining tissue or spread of malignant cells.
Shan Tang, MD
- Otolaryngology
