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Summary:

  • Experienced, multidisciplinary team
  • Price: up to $500 with adequate Private Health Insurance (self-pay options are available)

Thyroid Surgery

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.

Frequently asked Questions

  • What is the thyroid gland and what does it do?

    The thyroid is a gland in the neck that produces a hormone called thyroxine. This hormone is important in regulating your metabolism.

  • Why would thyroid surgery be needed?

    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 the thyroid can grow so large that it compresses other structures in the neck, such as the trachea (windpipe) or oesophagus (gullet), or it can even grow down underneath your sternum (breastbone) into the chest
    • Abnormal excessive production of thyroid hormone from; overactive thyroid nodules, or an autoimmune condition called Grave’s disease that causes the entire gland to become grossly overactive
    Note that not all of these conditions always require immediate surgery.

    For example with respect to the above conditions:

    • For thyroid nodules, some of these can be monitored with repeat ultrasounds, especially if they have low risk features.
    • Mild enlargement of the thyroid that does not produce significant symptoms can be monitored
    • For abnormal thyroid hormone production, these can sometimes be treated with medications or other ablative methods.

    It is important to discuss all your options with an expert to determine the treatment option that is best for your situation.

  • What is involved with thyroid surgery?

    Depending on your condition, usually either one side (hemithyroidectomy), or the entire thyroid (total thyroidectomy) is removed in surgery.

    There are many small blood vessels which supply the thyroid gland which will need to be carefully sealed and divided by the surgeon.

    A specialised nerve stimulator is also used to identify and protect an important nerve in your neck, which innervates the vocal cords. This nerve is called the recurrent laryngeal nerve.

    Most people stay overnight, and if they are well, they can go home the next day.

    The neck wound usually heals within 7-10 days, and our team will review your wound within 1-2 weeks to ensure it is progressing well.

  • Will I need long term medications after having thyroid surgery?
    Thyroid hormone supplementation

    If the entire thyroid is removed, then lifelong thyroid hormone supplementation is required, starting on the first day after surgery.

    If only one side of the thyroid is removed, most people do not require additional thyroid medications, however up to a quarter of patients may require additional hormone supplementation.

    Thyroid hormone medications are usually given as a tablet taken in the morning once a day. Your initial dose is prescribed according to your weight, however this dose may be adjusted over time with the guidance of blood tests to achieve an optimal level of circulating thyroxine in your body.

    Calcium supplementation

    There are 4 glands around your Thyroid called Parathyroid glands. These have a role in regulating calcium in your blood.

    Not uncommonly after thyroid surgery, they don’t function normally for a short period of time. Sometimes a number of these glands may also be removed during thyroid surgery. This may be unavoidable as these parathyroid glands are often closely adherent to the thyroid gland or are occasionally located inside the affected thyroid.

    Therefore, in some cases taking calcium tablets may be required in the short term after surgery.

    Generally, after one side of the thyroid is removed (hemithyroidectomy), no calcium tablet supplementation is required because you have usually 2 other parathyroid glands on the other side which will still work normally. The exception to this is if you have had previous surgery to the other side.

    After a total thyroidectomy, we would normally check your blood calcium levels and prescribe you calcium tablets to take. Most of the time, you can stop taking these tablets after some time, depending on your blood test results. Very rarely, you may need calcium tablets in the long term.

  • What are the risks of thyroid surgery?

    There are many important structures in the neck enclosed in a small space near the thyroid gland, and there are some risks involved in thyroid surgery, as with any other procedure.

    Serious risks are all very rare, but they include:

    • Bleeding, which may require going back to remove blood clots
    • Wound infection
    • Damage to nearby structures and nerves, in particular the recurrent laryngeal nerve
    • Long term need for calcium supplementation

    Learn more about thyroid surgery here.

  • Where do you operate?

    Our surgeons currently operate at:

    • Mulgrave Private Hospital, Mulgrave
    • St John of God Hospital, Berwick
    • Peninsula Private Hospital, Frankston
    • Knox Private Hospital, Wantirna

    Our surgeon Mr Andrew Chong performs our thyroid and parathyroid surgeries. Read more about him here.