Thyroid Disorders & Surgery

The thyroid gland is a butterfly-shaped organ located in the front of the neck, just over the windpipe. It produces iodine-containing hormones which regulate the rate at which body cells use energy and produce heat.

The growth and development of all the body’s tissues are dependent on the thyroid gland’s proper functioning. If the thyroid gland is either overactive or underactive, it can create health problems.

Thyroid surgery is indicated in thyroid cancer, enlarged thyroid gland (goiter), Grave’s disease, thyroid nodules, and occasionally in hyperthyroidism.

Thyroid surgery may involve complete or partial removal of thyroid gland which depends upon the type and severity of the condition.

Total thyroidectomy

It involves removal of entire thyroid gland. It is done to treat thyroid cancer and multinodular goiter

Lumpectomy or biopsy

It is the removal of small part of the thyroid gland. It is done to check if the thyroid nodules are cancerous

Thyroid lobectomy

It involves removal of lobes of the thyroid gland. It is performed if the nodules are located in one of the lobes

Subtotal thyroidectomy

It removes the major part of the thyroid gland leaving behind the some tissues on both sides of thyroid gland. It is done to remove tumor in thyroid gland, treat hyperthyroidism, and reduce the size of the enlarged thyroid gland

Near-total thyroidectomy

It removes the thyroid gland leaving behind some amount of enlarged thyroid tissue on one side of the thyroid gland. It is indicated in patients who have thyroid cancer, large goiter, and hyperthyroidism caused by Graves’ disease.

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