Thyroid Surgery
What is the Thyroid?
The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland located at the front of the neck just below the Adam’s apple. It is a small gland that wraps around the windpipe and it is responsible for the production of thyroid hormones. The levels of thyroid hormones play a major role in the regulation of metabolism, as well as growth and development.
What is Thyroid Surgery?
Abnormal growths of thyroid tissue due to thyroid nodule formation or thyroid cancer, can alter these thyroid hormone levels. Furthermore, enlargement of the thyroid gland can lead to difficulties swallowing or breathing. Thus, surgical removal of the whole or part of the thyroid gland may be needed to control these symptoms.
Partial removal of the thyroid gland is referred to as lobectomy and complete removal of the thyroid gland is referred to as total thyroidectomy.
The Procedure
Thyroidectomy is performed under general anaesthesia.
The surgeon will make an incision across the middle of the neck and the muscles of the neck will be carefully dissected until the thyroid gland is visualized. The thyroid gland will then be partially or completely removed depending on whether you undergo a hemithyroidectomy or total thyroidectomy. The skin and muscles will then be sutured and closed.
The removed sections of the thyroid gland will then be sent to the pathologist for inspection.