Thyroidectomy

What is a thyroidectomy?

A thyroidectomy is a surgical procedure to remove your thyroid. The surgeons at ENT Specialists offer both total and partial thyroidectomies to meet your specific needs. 

Your thyroid is a small gland in your neck. It has two lobes, giving it a butterfly shape. During a partial thyroidectomy (hemithyroidectomy), your surgeon only removes one of the lobes.

Depending on your condition, your surgeon might also recommend an isthmusectomy to remove the bridge of thyroid tissue between the lobes.

Why would I need a thyroidectomy?

Thyroid nodules are the most common reason to have a thyroidectomy. While thyroid nodules aren’t always cancerous, your ENT Specialists provider might recommend removing them if they’re large or causing discomfort or swallowing problems. 

You might also need a thyroidectomy to treat conditions like Graves’ disease, goiters, or toxic nodules that cause thyroid hyperactivity.

What happens during a thyroidectomy?

The team at ENT Specialists provides general anesthesia during a thyroidectomy so that you can sleep comfortably through the procedure. They use minimally invasive surgical techniques whenever possible to reduce scarring.

To perform your thyroidectomy, your surgeon makes a small horizontal incision in the front of your neck and uses special tools to remove all or part of your thyroid. 

While the team offers biopsies during the diagnostic process, they also perform a frozen section — a type of biopsy — during the operation if they find an abnormal growth. 

Depending on what your surgeon finds during the surgery, they might determine that it’s best to leave part of your thyroid intact or to remove the whole gland. 

When your surgery is complete, your doctor closes your incision and places a small drain to prevent fluid accumulation in your neck. 

Your surgeon explains the operation in more detail and can answer your questions during your pre-surgical consultation. 

What should I expect while recovering from a thyroidectomy?

You might have a sore throat or hoarse voice for a few days after your surgery. You can usually return to your regular activities reasonably quickly but you need to avoid strenuous activities until you feel up to it. Most patients return to work within a week or two. 

You might need to take a thyroid hormone replacement to ensure your body maintains the right hormone levels for your health and wellness. 

Call ENT Specialists or make an appointment online if you’re looking for an expert surgeon to perform a thyroidectomy.