Women's Health

When Is Thyroid Surgery Necessary?

Thyroid surgery is performed to treat conditions such as thyroid nodules, goitre, hyperthyroidism and cancer. There are two main types of thyroid surgery — partial and full removal of the thyroid.

What Is Thyroid?

The thyroid gland is a butterfly-shaped organ located in the front lower part of your neck. It plays a crucial role in your endocrine system — releasing and regulating hormones that control your body’s metabolism. These hormones are essential in many of your body’s processes, helping to regulate your body’s vital functions.

The two main types of thyroid diseases are:

• Overproduction or underproduction of hormones (Hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism)
• Swelling of the thyroid or formation of nodules (Goitres or thyroid nodules)

When Is Thyroid Surgery Needed?

Thyroid surgery is performed to treat thyroid diseases and is recommended under the following circumstances, when:

• Thyroid nodules are diagnosed or highly suspected to be cancerous
• Progressive growth of nodules are found
• Swelling of the thyroid gland (goitre) results in difficulty breathing or swallowing
• Thyroid diseases such as hyperthyroidism does not respond effectively to medical treatment

Types of Thyroid Surgery

There are generally two types of thyroid surgery — partial and full removal of the thyroid.

Hemithyroidectomy

Hemithyroidectomy is the surgical removal of a portion (usually half) of the thyroid gland.  It is usually recommended for patients with benign nodules and smaller cancers.

Total Thyroidectomy

Total thyroidectomy is a thyroid surgery that removes the entire thyroid gland. It is usually the standard approach for most thyroid cancer and surgical treatment of hyperthyroidism.

What Are the Risks Associated With Thyroid Surgery?

Similar to any type of surgery, there are also risks involved with thyroid surgery.

Although thyroid surgery is generally safe in the hands of an experienced surgeon, the possible complications may still include:

• General anaesthesia risks such as allergic reactions
• Post-operative bleeding or infection
• Hoarseness of voice due to potential recurrent laryngeal nerve (nerves that are connected to the vocal cord) injury
• Low calcium levels (hypocalcemia) in the body due to disturbance of the parathyroid glands (glands that control calcium levels)

In most cases, the chances of developing these complications are very small.

What Happens After Thyroid Surgery?

The recovery period differs for every patient. Most patients can generally resume most of their normal daily activities a day after surgery. It may take about 2 – 3 weeks before more strenuous activities can resume.

During this period, a sore throat may develop. This can be treated via over-the-counter medications such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen to provide relief. Additionally, patients who had undergone total thyroidectomy will need thyroid hormone replacement medications to ensure that hormone levels are balanced.

Patients who are diagnosed with thyroid cancer may also need radioactive iodine therapy after the surgery.