Thyroid

Description

Thyroid gland diseases normally requiring surgery are thyroid nodules, goiter, hyperthyroidism and tumors.

Thyroid nodules are lumps (isolated or multiple) located in the thyroid. Most of them are benign but depending on age and sex, they may turn malignant. Normal procedure is to perform a biopsy and depending on the results intervention is required.

Goiter involves an increase of the size of the thyroid gland and most cases it is a benign pathology although over time it may turn malignant. Goiter is normally due to the lack of iodine in diet or to metabolic problems..

Hyperthyroidism is an increase in the production of thyroid hormones. This may translate into a loss of weight, heat intolerance and increase of sweating, acute fatigue, nervousness and palpitations. Treatment can be medical or surgical.

Thyroid cancer normally appears as a tumor evident to touch on the neck. There are different types of thyroid cancers so each patient requires personalized treatment (aggressive surgery and post-surgical treatment).

Symptoms

The main symptom of thyroid conditions is partial or (nodules, cancer) or total (goiter, hyperthyroidism) increase of the size of the thyroid. Even if this increase is important, patients may show problems to swallow and breath.

Treatment

Treatment of thyroid gland diseases is a combination of drugs and surgery. The most common procedure in thyroid diseases requiring surgery is the hemithyroidectomy, i.e., the removal of the gland affected or total thyroidectomy which consists in removing the whole thyroid. Surgery is carried out through an incision in the neck that given the experience of CMED surgeons does not exceed 3cms so the wound disappears totally over time.
Post-surgery is normally very satisfactory and does not require more than one or two days of hospital.