Thyroid Surgery

Thyroid surgery is performed on patients who suffer from an array of thyroid issues, including cancerous and benign thyroid nodules, large thyroid glands, and overactive thyroid glands. Performing thyroid surgery is also required to diagnose thyroid cancer.

Complications are more likely to arise from thyroid surgery when it is performed by a surgeon who doesn't have special training and extensive experience performing thyroid surgery. Thyroid surgery is best performed by a surgeon who performs it on a regular basis.

Types of Thyroid Surgery

Total Thyroidectomy – Total thyroidectomy is the complete removal of the thyroid. It is the most common type of thyroid surgery, and it is often performed to treat thyroid cancer, particularly aggressive forms. It is also used to treat goiter and Graves’/hypothyroidism.

Subtotal and Near-Total Thyroidectomy – In subtotal thyroidectomy, a small amount of tissue is left bilaterally, while in near-total thyroidectomy, about one gm or cm of thyroid tissue is left on one side. In order to perform subtotal or near-total thyroidectomy, the cancer must be small, non-aggressive (papillary or follicular), and contained to one side of the gland.

Biopsy or Lumpectomy – A biopsy or lumpectomy consists of removing only a small part of the thyroid gland. This type of thyroid surgery isn’t often performed when thyroid cancer is present. The cancer cells must be small and non-aggressive in order for a biopsy or lumpectomy to be effective.

Lobectomy – A lobectomy involves the removal of about half of the thyroid gland. In order to make a proper thyroid cancer diagnosis, performing a lobectomy may be necessary. If malignancy is confirmed, then the remainder of the thyroid must be removed.

How to Determine Which Type of Surgery is Appropriate

To determine how much of your thyroid gland should be removed, we will take your medical history and perform a thorough physical exam. Once we determine what type of surgery you need, we will explain exactly what the procedure entails and ensure that you understand the specific reasons why we recommend that particular procedure.