Thyroid gland removal is surgery to remove all or part of the thyroid gland.
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 and plays a major role in regulating the body's metabolism.
Alternative Names:
Total thyroidectomy; Partial thyroidectomy; Thyroidectomy
Description:
Thyroidectomy is done while you are under general anesthesia (unconscious and pain-free). Sometimes it is done with regional anesthesia (awake, but pain-free). The surgeon makes a cut in the neck and locates the gland. All or part of the thyroid gland, depending on the particular procedure, is removed.
Indications:
Thyroidectomy may be recommended for the following:
The procedure may also be done if a patient with hyperthyroidism does not want to have radioactive iodine treatment and cannot be treated with anti-thyroid medications.
Risks:
Risks for any anesthesia include the following:
Reactions to medications
Problems breathing
Risks for any surgery include the following:
Bleeding
Infection
Additional risks for thyroidectomy include the following:
Temporary or permanent loss of ability to speak due to paralysis of the vocal chords
Inadequate thyroid function (hypothyroidism)
Injury to the adjacent parathyroid glands
Inadequate level of calcium in the blood (hypocalcemia)
Review Date: 10/16/2006
Reviewed By: J.A. Lee, M.D., Assistant Professor of Surgery, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.
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