Thyroid Surgery in Johnson City, TN

Diagnosing and Treating Conditions of the Thyroid

Thyroid surgery is a broad category that encompasses several different types of surgeries performed on the thyroid. There are many different conditions that can affect the thyroid and it’s important to get an accurate diagnosis before selecting a treatment option.

Premier Surgical Lawson Group specializes in diagnosing and treating conditions of the thyroid at our surgery center in Johnson City, TN. Learn more about the types of thyroid surgery and schedule your consultation today.

Reasons for Thyroid Surgery

There are a few primary reasons for these types of surgeries such as a case of thyroid cancer or a goiter/nodule that is large enough to cause problematic symptoms. This goiter or nodule is typically treated using thyroid surgery if the patient experiences:

• Difficulty swallowing
• Compression of the trachea
• Displeasure at the unsightly size of the mass
• Other severe symptoms associated with related conditions of the thyroid such as Graves’ disease, a toxic nodule, or a toxic multi-nodular goiter

Naturally, the severity of the reason for thyroid surgery will be the biggest factor in determining which type of thyroid surgery to pursue for each individual.

Types of Thyroid Surgery

The type of thyroid surgery being performed will depend upon the particular patient and their thyroid condition. There are 4 common forms of thyroid surgery including:

Open Thyroid Biopsy

During a thyroid biopsy, a small sample of thyroid tissue is removed from the thyroid gland to be later examined for signs of cancer, infection, or other serious thyroid complications.

Thyroid Isthmusectomy

This procedure excises the thyroid isthmus. A thyroid isthmusectomy is not often performed, although it is an excellent method for preservation of the thyroid that may not be able to be attained with a thyroid lobectomy.

Hemi-Thyroidectomy/Thyroid Lobectomy

A hemithyroidectomy, more often known as a thyroid lobectomy, involves removing the half of the thyroid gland containing a nodule. A thyroid lobectomy may also be necessary in order to properly diagnose a thyroid condition if other biopsy methods are not satisfactory.

Total or Near-Total Thyroidectomy

With a near-total or total thyroidectomy, a majority of or the entire thyroid gland is removed. Most often, this surgery is performed if there is the presence of a large goiter, Graves’ disease, or thyroid cancer. Due to the huge loss of the thyroid gland, patients who undergo this procedure will need to remain on lifelong thyroid hormone replacement after surgery.