Thyroidectomy

Surgical removal of all or part of the thyroid gland, which is the gland in the neck that produces hormones that regulate metabolism. Removal of only one lobe of the thyroid is called thyroid lobectomy or partial thyroidectomy.

Parts of the Body Involved

Front of the neck and the thyroid gland

Reasons for Procedure

All or part of the thyroid gland may be surgically removed for any of the following reasons:
  • Thyroid cancer (benign nodule or malignancy)
  • Very large or toxic goiter (enlarged thyroid) due to hyperthyroidism
  • Some cases of Grave's disease (a form of hyperthyroidism)

Risk Factors for Complications during the Procedure

  • Obesity
  • Smoking
  • Alcoholism
  • Poor nutrition
  • Severe chronic illness, such as poorly controlled diabetes

What to Expect

Prior to Procedure:
  • Physical exam
  • Laboratory and/or imaging tests to assess thyroid function
  • Thyroid medication (to suppress thyroid activity in patients with hyperthyroidism)
  • Iodine treatments for 10-15 days before surgery
  • Fine needle aspiration biopsy to determine if a tumor or nodule is cancerous (in some cases)
During Procedure:
  • Anesthesia
  • Breathing tube (intubation)
  • Horizontal incision in the front of your neck
Anesthesia

Outcome

The outcomes after surgery depend on the reason for thyroidectomy.

If the thyroid was removed to treat hyperthyroidism, the following symptoms should subside:
  • Excessive fatigue
  • Weight loss
  • Nervousness
  • Rapid heart beat
  • Excessive sweating
  • Feeling of being hot
  • Tremors
  • Menstrual cycle irregularities
If the thyroid was removed to treat a thyroid tumor, nodule, or excessive goiter, the outcomes include:
  • Removal of cancerous tissue from the body
  • Improvement in swallowing or airflow that may have been compromised by an oversized thyroid gland

Call Your Doctor If Any of the Following Occurs

  • Numbness or tingling around the lips or extremities
  • Twitching or spasms
  • Excessive and progressive fatigue
  • Signs of infection, including fever and chills
  • Redness, swelling, increasing pain, excessive bleeding, or discharge from the incision site
  • Cough, shortness of breath, chest pain, or severe nausea or vomiting