What is thyroid surgery?

Thyroid surgery is an operation that is performed in order to remove part or all of the thyroid gland. In cases of thyroid cancer, this type of operation is targeted towards removing known sites of cancer that have been identified in specific locations within the thyroid gland. As part of the same procedure, the remaining parts of the thyroid are usually removed and submitted for examination to determine whether the cancer has spread to other parts of the thyroid or beyond the thyroid to other areas of the neck.

In some cases, thyroid surgery may be employed to treat other conditions. An operation may be necessary to remove the thyroid gland when it has become dangerously overactive, or when it has grown large enough to compress other structures in the neck. Surgery may also be needed to remove a nodule that is overactive, or to remove a nodule that has proven to be suspicious for possible thyroid cancer.

Back to My doctor recommends thyroid surgery for my nodule