Surgery is an option to treat various thyroid conditions, including Graves’ Disease, thyroid cancer, and compressive goiters. The approach typically involves a total thyroidectomy, though in some cases, only part of the thyroid may be removed.
When is Thyroid Surgery Recommended?
- For Graves’ Disease when other treatments have failed or are not suitable
- As the primary treatment for all forms of thyroid cancer
- To address goiters causing compression of airway, esophagus, or vocal cords
Risks of Thyroid Surgery
- Potential for infection or bleeding
- Risk of parathyroid gland disruption potentially causing low calcium levels
- Possible vocal cord paralysis
- Mandatory lifelong thyroid hormone replacement
Benefits of Thyroid Surgery
- Resolves Graves’ disease symptoms
- Allows accurate cancer staging
- Relieves airway or vocal cord compression
Surgical Details
Incision
- Typically a small incision of a couple inches
- For advanced cancer or large goiters, may be larger and extend toward the jaw
Recovery
- Hospital stay of 1-3 days
- Full range of motion and pain resolution takes a few weeks
- Surgical tissue remains firm for weeks to months
Post-Surgery Medication Management
Calcium and Thyroid Hormone
- Calcium typically normalizes within 2-4 weeks
- Levothyroxine (thyroid hormone) is required for life
Taking Thyroid Hormone
- Take on an empty stomach
- Wait at least 1 hour before other medications or food
- Take consistently at the same time
- Be aware of potential absorption interference from certain medications and foods
Treatment Monitoring
- TSH and FT4 checked around 8 weeks post-treatment
- Dose adjustments made to normalize thyroid levels
- For some thyroid cancer cases, specific TSH targeting may be used
Additional Resources
Note: Always consult with your healthcare provider for personalized medical advice.