Thyroid gland removal Health Article

Definition

Thyroid gland removal is surgery to remove all or part of the thyroid gland. Your thyroid gland is a butterfly-shaped gland that lies over your trachea (the tube that carries air to your lungs). It is just below your voice box.

• Total thyroidectomy removes the entire gland.
• Subtotal or partial thyroidectomy removes part of the thyroid gland.

The thyroid gland is part of the endocrine system. It helps your body regulate your metabolism.

Alternative Names

Total thyroidectomy; Partial thyroidectomy; Thyroidectomy; Subtotal thyroidectomy

Description

You will probably receive general anesthesia (asleep and pain-free) for this surgery. Or you may receive local anesthesia and medicine to relax you. You will be awake but pain-free.

Your surgeon may do the procedure through an incision (cut) in your neck.

• Your surgeon will make a 3-inch to 4-inch incision in your neck and will find your thyroid gland. Your surgeon will remove all or part of the gland.
• Your surgeon will be very careful not to damage the blood vessels and nerves in your neck.
• Your surgeon may place a small catheter (tube) into the area to help drain blood and other fluids that build up. The drain will be removed in 1 or 2 days.
• Surgery to remove your whole thyroid will take up to 4 hours. It will take about 2 hours to remove half of it.

Your surgeon may use an endoscope to remove your thyroid.

• In this procedure, you will have 3 or 4 small incisions. Your surgeon will insert a tiny camera through one incision and small tools through the others ones.
• Your surgeon will use the camera to see the area and will remove your thyroid with the tools.

Why the Procedure Is Performed

Your doctor may recommend thyroid removal if you have:

• Cancer of the thyroid
• Benign (non-cancerous) tumors of the thyroid
• A small thyroid nodule or cyst
• A thyroid gland that is so overactive it is dangerous (Thyrotoxicosis)
• Thyroid swelling (nontoxic goiter) that makes it hard for you to breathe or swallow

You may also have surgery if you have hyperthyroidism, do not want to have radioactive iodine treatment, and cannot be treated with anti-thyroid medicines.