When is thyroid surgery necessary?
Your doctor may recommend thyroid surgery for the following thyroid conditions:
- Goiter
- Thyroid cancer
- Nodule suspicious for cancer
- Recurrent thyroid cysts
- Nodule or goiter large enough to cause discomfort or difficulty swallowing
- Graves’ disease (hyperthyroidism or overactive thyroid gland)
What are the symptoms of thyroid cancer?
Thyroid cancer usually doesn’t cause symptoms until the tumor is large. Then you may experience symptoms that include:
- Lump at the base of your neck
- Changes to your voice such as hoarseness
- Difficulty swallowing
- Pain in your neck and throat
- Swollen lymph nodes in your neck
When your surgeon suspects thyroid cancer, they perform a biopsy, then remove the thyroid if needed.
What is a goiter?
A goiter is an enlarged thyroid gland. It may continue to produce a normal amount of thyroid hormone, too little hormones, or it can overproduce hormones, which is a toxic goiter. It may be surgically removed when it becomes toxic or when it’s so large that it causes discomfort or interferes with swallowing.
What is a thyroid nodule?
A thyroid nodule is an overgrowth of cells that form a lump or mass in your thyroid gland. When a nodule is filled with fluid, it’s a thyroid cyst. Most nodules are too small to feel, and 90% are benign (noncancerous), but they vary in size, can become quite large, and may contain cancer.
You may have a higher risk of developing thyroid nodules if you have hypothyroidism (an underactive thyroid) or an iodine deficiency, which is rare in the United States.
You’ll need surgical intervention when thyroid nodules are cancerous, they’re too large, or they become toxic and overproduce thyroid hormone.
What are the different types of thyroid surgery?
Your surgeon may perform thyroid surgery with a standard incision directly over the gland, or using a robotic system that accesses the gland through an incision under your arm. The technique depends on the size of the nodule and whether it’s cancerous.
The three types of thyroid surgery are:
Hemithyroidectomy or thyroid lobectomy
In a hemithyroidectomy, one lobe of the thyroid is removed, while in a thyroid lobectomy half the thyroid is removed.
Thyroidectomy
This procedure entails a total or near-total removal of your thyroid gland.
Isthmusectomy
This procedure, which removes the bridge of tissue that connects the two thyroid lobes, is often performed together with a lobectomy.
When you need thyroid surgery, you can rely on the experience of the surgeons at Rockwall Surgical Specialists. To schedule an evaluation, call or book an appointment online.
