
Get answers to your Thyroid and Parathyroid Surgery questions.
Dr. Douglas Turner’s Bio | Q&A Archive
Total thyroidectomy; Partial thyroidectomy; Thyroidectomy; Subtotal thyroidectomy
Thyroid gland removal is surgery to remove all or part of the thyroid gland. Your thyroid gland is a butterfly-shaped gland that lies over your trachea (the tube that carries air to your lungs). It is just below your voice box.
The thyroid gland is part of the endocrine system. It helps your body regulate your metabolism.
You will probably receive general anesthesia (asleep and pain-free) for this surgery. Or you may receive local anesthesia and medicine to relax you. You will be awake but pain-free.
Your surgeon may do the procedure through an incision (cut) in your neck.
Your surgeon may use an endoscope to remove your thyroid.
Your doctor may recommend thyroid removal if you have:
You may also have surgery if you have hyperthyroidism, do not want to have radioactive iodine treatment, and cannot be treated with anti-thyroid medicines.
Hanks JB, Salomone LJ. Thyroid. In: Townsend CM, Beauchamp RD, Evers BM, Mattox KL, eds. Sabiston Textbook of Surgery. 18th ed. St. Louis, Mo: WB Saunders; 2008:chap 36.