Skilled physicians/surgeons removing a thyroid gland rarely find it necessary to remove a parathyroid gland. Most physicians are extremely careful not to damage the parathyroids during surgery. Some patients are not so lucky and may suffer damage to their parathyroids which result in severe, even life threatening symptoms of hypOcalcemia days after thyroid surgery. Finding a skilled surgeon with experience in thyroid surgery will help to minimize the chances of damaging parathyroids during thyroid surgery.
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.
Alternative NamesTotal thyroidectomy; Partial thyroidectomy; Thyroidectomy; Subtotal thyroidectomy
DescriptionYou 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 a surgical cut in your neck.
Your doctor may recommend thyroid removal if you have:
You may also have surgery if you have an overactive thyroid glandand do not want to have radioactive iodine treatment, or you cannot be treated with antithyroid medicines.
RisksRisks for any anesthesia include:
Risks for any surgery include:
Risks for thyroid removal include:
You may need to have tests that show exactly where the abnormal thyroid growth is located. This will help the surgeon find the abnormal growth during surgery. You may have a CT scan, ultrasound, or other special imaging tests.
You may also need thyroid medicine or iodine treatments 1 - 2 weeks before your surgery.
Before surgery, an anesthesiologist will review your medical history and decide what type of anesthesia to use. The anesthesiologist is a physician who will give you the medicines that will make you sleepy and keep you pain-free during surgery. The anesthesiologist is also responsible for monitoring you during surgery.
Fill any prescriptions for pain medicine and calcium you will need after surgery.
Several days to a week before surgery, you may be asked to stop taking drugs that make it harder for your blood to clot. These include drugs such as:
You will probably be asked to stop eating or drinking at least 6 hours before surgery.
Ask your doctor which medicines you should still take the day of surgery.
If you smoke, try to stop. Your recovery time will be shorter if you do not smoke. Ask your doctor or nurse for help.
Your doctor or nurse will tell you when to arrive at the hospital.
After the ProcedureYou will probably go home the day after surgery. In rare cases, patients may spend up to 3 days in the hospital. You must be able to swallow liquids before you can go home.
Your doctor will probably check the calcium level in your blood after surgery. This is done more often when the whole thyroid gland is removed.
Outlook (Prognosis)The outcome of this surgery is usually excellent. Most people will need to take thyroid hormone pills (thyroid hormone replacement) for the rest of their lives.
ReferencesHanks 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.
Lai SY, Mandel SJ, Weber RS. Management of thyroid neoplasms. In: Flint PW, Haughey BH, Lund VJ, Niparko JK, Richardson MA, et al, eds. Cummings Otolaryngology: Head & Neck Surgery. 5th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Mosby Elsevier;2010:chap 124.
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.
Alternative NamesTotal thyroidectomy; Partial thyroidectomy; Thyroidectomy; Subtotal thyroidectomy
DescriptionYou will have general anesthesia (asleep and pain-free) for this surgery. Rarely, the surgery may be done with local anesthesia and medicine to relax you. You will be awake but pain-free.
Your surgeon may do the procedure through a surgical cut in your neck.
Your doctor may recommend thyroid removal if you have:
You may also have surgery if you have an overactive thyroid glandand do not want to have radioactive iodine treatment, or you cannot be treated with antithyroid medicines.
RisksRisks from any anesthesia include:
Risks from any surgery include:
Risks for thyroid removal include:
You may need to have tests that show exactly where the abnormal thyroid growth is located. This will help the surgeon find the growth during surgery. You may have a CT scan, ultrasound, or other special imaging tests.
Your doctor may also do a fine needle aspiration to find out if the growth is noncancerous or cancerous. Before surgery, your vocal cord function should be checked.
You may also need thyroid medicine or iodine treatments 1 - 2 weeks before your surgery.
Before surgery, an anesthesiologist will review your medical history and decide what type of anesthesia to use. The anesthesiologist is a Doctor Who will give you the medicines that will make you sleepy and keep you pain-free during surgery. The anesthesiologist will also monitor you during surgery.
Fill any prescriptions for pain medicine and calcium you will need after surgery.
Several days to a week before surgery, you may be asked to stop taking drugs that make it harder for your blood to clot. These include drugs such as:
You will probably be asked to stop eating or drinking at least 6 hours before surgery.
Ask your doctor which medicines you should still take the day of surgery.
If you smoke, try to stop. Your recovery time will be shorter if you do not smoke. Ask your doctor or nurse for help.
Your doctor or nurse will tell you when to arrive at the hospital.
After the ProcedureYou will probably go home the day after surgery. In rare cases, patients may spend up to 3 days in the hospital. You must be able to swallow liquids before you can go home.
Your doctor will probably check the calcium level in your blood after surgery. This is done more often when the whole thyroid gland is removed.
You may have some minor pain after surgery. Most patients are able to get up and walk on the day after surgery. It should take about 3 - 4 weeks for you to fully recover. Avoid the sun while the surgical cut is healing to prevent the skin from getting darker.
Outlook (Prognosis)The outcome of this surgery is usually excellent. Most people will need to take thyroid hormone pills (thyroid hormone replacement) for the rest of their lives if the whole gland has been removed.
ReferencesHanks 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.
Lai SY, Mandel SJ, Weber RS. Management of thyroid neoplasms. In: Flint PW, Haughey BH, Lund VJ, Niparko JK, Richardson MA, et al, eds. Cummings Otolaryngology: Head & Neck Surgery. 5th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Mosby Elsevier;2010:chap 124.
Reviewed ByReview Date: 05/06/2011
Shabir Bhimji, MD, PhD, Specializing in General Surgery, Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery, Midland, TX. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
You have to be more specific. Yes, it is removable though it in most cases means heavy medication afterwards.
The thyroid gland would be removed if it is cancerous. It would be removed shortly after being diagnosed.
Excision means surgical removal, so excision of the thyroid gland, or thyroidectomy, is surgical removal of all or part of the thyroid.
Removal of the thyroid gland.
Thyroidectomy is the removal of the thyroid hemithyroidectomy is the removal of one lobe of the thyroid gland parathyroidectomy is the removal of one or more lobes of the parathyroid which is behind the thyroid gland.
Thyroidectomy is removal or partial removal of the Thyroid gland. The surgical terminology suffix "-ectomy" was taken from Greek εκ-τομια = "act of cutting out"
The removal of the thyroid gland ( thyroidectomy ) is usually indicated for conditions such as hypercalcemia, hyperthyriodism, enlarged thyroid gland, and/or thryroid tumors.
Removal of thyroid gland does not affect single body system. Thyroid gland regulates basal metabolic rate.
Removal of the thyroid gland because of cancer or other thyroid disorders can result in hypothyroidism.
Yes! a thyroid gland IS an endocrine gland
The thyroid gland.
HypophysectomyhypophysectomyhypophysectomyHypophysectomy is surgical removal of the pituiatry, a gland in the brain.
thyroid gland
Isthmusectomy is the surgical removal of a lobe and the isthmus of the thyroid gland. See the link, below.