Center for Consumer Health Information, Cleveland Clinic

 

Thyroidectomy

What is a thyroidectomy?

A thyroidectomy is the surgical removal of all or part of the thyroid gland.

What does the thyroid gland do?

The thyroid, located at the base of your neck, makes a hormone that is sent into your bloodstream. The thyroid gland makes this hormone from iodine. Iodine is absorbed from the foods we eat.

The thyroid hormone controls the speed of your metabolism. The pituitary gland (located in your brain) controls how much thyroid hormone to make. It does this by making thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH). TSH tells the thyroid gland to make more or less thyroid hormone.

Problems with the thyroid gland

Hypothyroidism
An under-active thyroid is called hypothyroidism. The thyroid produces less thyroxine. This makes the pituitary gland send more TSH into the bloodstream to get the thyroid gland to make more hormone.

Common symptoms of hypothyroidism:

  • Weight gain
  • Feeling cold
  • Dry skin, hair, and nails
  • Feeling tired

Hyperthyroidism
An over-active thyroid is called hyperthyroidism. The thyroid gland makes too much thyroid hormone. The pituitary gland decreases the amount of TSH in the blood.

Common symptoms of hyperthyroidism:

  • Heat intolerance
  • Feeling jittery or irritable
  • Fast heart rate
  • Losing weight without dieting
  • Muscle weakness, fatigue

Nodules
Thyroid nodules can be either solid or cystic (fluid filled). Most of the time, your thyroid works normally if you have nodules. Most nodules are not cancerous. However, your doctor might take a sample of the cells in the nodule. This is called a fine needle aspiration. This sample will be examined to make sure there are no cancer cells.

Goiter
This is an enlargement of the thyroid gland. You might feel swelling or enlargement in the neck. It can become larger because your thyroid is trying to make more thyroid hormone. Also, in hyperthyroidism the cells grow faster, which causes the thyroid to grow and make more thyroid hormone than the body needs.

What if I need surgery?

Surgery might be necessary to remove a large goiter or nodule. Surgery might also be needed to remove a hyperthyroid gland that cannot be treated with medicine, or for thyroid cancer.

What are the risks of surgery?

The risks of surgery are minimal, but might include:

  • Blood loss
  • Infection

In addition, an occasional patient might have transient hoarseness, but this is rarely permanent. If there is thyroid cancer, you might require additional therapy.

What occurs during surgery?

You will be given a general anesthesia to relax your muscles, prevent pain, and make you fall asleep.

An incision (cut) is made along a crease in the base of your neck. Your surgeon might remove part of the thyroid (lobectomy), most of the gland (subtotal), or all of the gland (total thyroidectomy).

After the surgery

  • You are usually watched in the hospital overnight.
  • You will have a cosmetically acceptable scar on the front of your neck.
  • You might be required to take thyroid hormone medication.

Call your doctor if:

  • There is swelling at the incision site
  • There is bleeding at the incision site
  • You have a fever of 101 degrees or higher
  • There is a redness or warmth at the incision site
  • You experience tingling in your hands, feet, or lips
  • You notice numbness or tingling in your face, hands, or lips

Copyright 1995-2012 The Cleveland Clinic Foundation. All rights reserved

This information is provided by the Cleveland Clinic and is not intended to replace the medical advice of your doctor or health care provider. Please consult your health care provider for advice about a specific medical condition. For additional written health information, please contact the Health Information Center at the Cleveland Clinic (216) 444-3771 or toll-free (800) 223-2273 extension 43771 or visit www.clevelandclinic.org/health/.

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