Should a male 70 yoa with hyperthyroidism have surgery?

Answer 1

Whether surgery should be considered for a person with a hyperthyroid condition, depends largely on the reason for the hyperthyroidism. Is the reason autoimmunity, or cancer, or something else? Other things must be taken into consideration including the severity of the disease, whether there are other symptoms (like Graves' Ophthalmopathy) that need to be taken into consideration, or other health concerns. Usually medication is tried first, and in fact can be used for many years to induce remission or control the gland without surgery, so long as the patient has no adverse reactions etc. The decision should be between the patient and his doctor, but a wise patient looks at all his options very carefully before accepting anything as permanent as surgery or radiation.