Thyroid Surgery

There are some conditions where thyroid surgery may be recommended. It is important to discuss all your options with an expert. Call us to find out how we can help.

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The thyroid is a gland in the neck that produces a hormone called thyroxine. There are some conditions of the thyroid where surgery may be recommended. It is important to discuss all your options with an expert to determine the treatment option that is best for your situation.

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There are some conditions of the thyroid where surgery may be recommended. These include:

Cancer of the thyroid; or nodules in the gland that are suspicious for cancer
Non-cancerous enlargement of the thyroid (goitre) – sometimes so large it compresses the trachea or oesophagus, or grows down into the chest beneath the sternum
Abnormal excessive production of thyroid hormone from overactive thyroid nodules, or Grave's disease

Note: Not all conditions always require immediate surgery. Nodules with low-risk features may be monitored with repeat ultrasounds; mild enlargement may be monitored; abnormal hormone production may be treated with medications or ablative methods.

Depending on your condition, usually either one side (hemithyroidectomy) or the entire thyroid (total thyroidectomy) is removed. Many small blood vessels supplying the thyroid must be carefully sealed and divided. A specialised nerve stimulator is used to identify and protect the recurrent laryngeal nerve, which innervates the vocal cords. Most people stay overnight and can go home the next day. The neck wound usually heals within 7–10 days; the team reviews the wound within 1–2 weeks.

Thyroid hormone supplementation

If the entire thyroid is removed, lifelong thyroid hormone supplementation is required from day one post-surgery. If only one side is removed, most patients do not require additional medications, although up to a quarter may. Dosage is given as a morning tablet based on body weight, adjusted over time via blood tests.

Calcium supplementation

There are 4 parathyroid glands around the thyroid that regulate blood calcium. After thyroid surgery they may temporarily malfunction, or some may be inadvertently removed. After hemithyroidectomy, calcium supplementation is generally not required. After total thyroidectomy, blood calcium is monitored and calcium tablets are usually prescribed short-term; rarely needed long-term.