About

The thyroid is a butterfly shaped gland in the neck just below the Adam’s apple. It produces thyroid hormones which control the body’s metabolism.

Causes

Someone might need thyroid surgery if they have thyroid cancer, an enlarged thyroid (also known as a goitre) which is making it difficult for them to swallow or breathe, or if they have an overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism). Surgery to remove the whole thyroid is called a total thyroidectomy. Removal of half the thyroid gland is called a hemithyroidectomy.

Treatment

Thyroid surgery may be appropriate for patients who have the following thyroid conditions:

  • Benign multinodular goitre
  • Retrosternal goitre
  • Toxic multinodular goitre
  • Graves’ Disease
  • Thyroid cancer
  • Papillary carcinoma
  • Follicular carcinoma
  • Medullary Carcinoma
  • Anaplastic carcinoma

Parathyroid Surgery

The parathyroid glands are four tiny glands at the back of the Thyroid Gland. They produce a hormone which regulates the level of calcium in your blood. An over active parathyroid gland leads in an increase in calcium levels in the blood. This results in long term complications and problems.