Thyroid surgery is sometimes used to treat conditions that affect the thyroid gland. It most often is recommended for patients with thyroid cancer or conditions that fail to respond to antithyroid medications, including some cases of thyroid nodules, some types of thyroiditis and certain cases of goiter caused by hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism.

There are various types of thyroid surgery that may be performed, depending on the nature of a patient’s illness. In some cases, surgery consists of a biopsy in which a tissue sample is removed for analysis. In other cases, part or all of the thyroid may be removed.

Before thyroid surgery, various tests may be performed to ensure that a patient is a good candidate for the procedure. In the 24 hours prior to the procedure, patients are urged to follow any preparatory recommendations made by their physician. These may include changes to diet or medication regimen.

In most cases, thyroid surgery is performed in a hospital while the patient is under general anesthesia. This means that the patient is not conscious and does not experience pain. During the procedure, the physician makes an incision in the front of a patient’s neck and removes some or all of the thyroid gland.

In most cases, patients who have thyroid surgery are discharged from the hospital within one to three days. After they are fully recovered, most patients do not experience any long-term limitations in their daily lives and routines. However, patients who have their entire thyroid removed will be required to take thyroid medications such as a hormone replacement pill daily for the rest of their lives.