View source for Thyroidectomy

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  ICD9        = 06.3 |
  ICD9_mult   = {{ICD9proc|06.5}} |
  MeshID      = D013965 |
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A '''thyroidectomy''' involves the [[surgery|surgical]] removal of all or part of the [[thyroid gland]].  Surgeons often perform a thyroidectomy when a patient has thyroid [[cancer]] or some other condition of the thyroid [[gland]] (such as [[hyperthyroidism]]). 

The thyroid produces several [[hormone]]s, such as [[thyroxine]] (T4), [[triiodothyronine]] (T3) and [[calcitonin]]. 

After the removal of a thyroid patients usually take prescribed oral synthetic thyroid hormones to prevent the most serious manifestations of the resultant [[hypothyroidism]].

Less extreme variants of thyroidectomy include:
* "hemithyroidectomy" (or "unilateral lobectomy") -- removing only half of the thyroid
* "isthmectomy" -- removing the band of tissue (or [[isthmus]]) connecting the two lobes of the thyroid 

A "thyroidectomy" should not be confused with a "[[thyroidotomy]]" ("[[thyrotomy]]"), which is a ''cutting into'' (-otomy) the thyroid, not a ''removal'' (-ectomy) of it. A thyroidotomy can be performed to get access for a [[median laryngotomy]], or to perform a [[biopsy]]. (Although technically a biopsy involves removing some tissue, it is more frequently categorized as an -otomy than an -ectomy because the volume of tissue removed is minuscule.)

== Indications ==
Malignancy
<br />Cosmetic reasons
<br />Goitre which is untreatable by medical methods
Thyroidectomies are usually done for people that are Hyperthyroid or Hypothyroid
<br />In patients with Graves Disease, thyroidectomy is indicated in the following conditions:
* Who have coexistent, confirmed cancer or suspicious thyroid nodules.
* Young patients.
* Pregnant or desire to conceive soon after treatment.
* Allergic to anti-thyroid medications.
* With large goiter causing compressive symptoms.
* Reluctant to undergo RAI therapy.

== Steps ==
Main steps of Thyroidectomy:
# Exposure
# Devascularization
# [[Resection]]
# Closure

== Complications ==

#[[Hypothyroidism]] in up to 50% of patients after ten years
#[[Laryngeal nerve]] injury in about 1% of patients, in particular the [[recurrent laryngeal nerve]]: Unilateral damage results in a hoarse voice. Bilateral damage presents as laryngeal obstruction on removal of the tracheal tube and is a surgical emergency: an emergency [[tracheostomy]] must be performed. Recurrent Laryngeal nerve injury may occur during the ligature of the inferior thyroid artery.
# [[Hypoparathyroidism]] in about 1% of patients
# [[Haemorrhage]]/[[Hematoma]]
# Thyrotoxic crisis

==External links==

* [http://health.yahoo.com/health/encyclopedia/001159/0.html Yahoo]
* [http://www.thyroidectomy.com Minimally Invasive Endoscopic Video Assisted Thyroid & Parathyroid Removal Surgery]

* [http://gallery.hd.org/_c/medicine/_more2006/_more08/thyroidectomy-total-scar-on-neck-of-adult-male-patient-after-thyroid-gland-surgically-completely-removed-to-eliminate-small-cancerous-nodule-1-ANON.jpg.html Post-op scar images]

[[Category:Surgery]]
[[Category:Endocrinology]]
[[Category:Surgical procedures]]

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{{Endocrine system intervention}}
{{Endocrine system procedures|state=collapsed}}