thyroidectomy

A thyroidectomy is an operation that involves the surgical removal of all or part of the thyroid gland. In general surgery, endocrine or head and neck surgeons often perform a thyroidectomy when a patient has thyroid cancer or some other condition of the thyroid gland, such as hyperthyroidism or goiter. Less common indications for surgery include cosmetic concerns or airway obstruction related to significant enlargement of the thyroid. Post-operative complications or sequelae may involve temporary or permanent change in voice, temporary or permanent hypocalcemia, the need for lifelong thyroid hormone replacement, bleeding, infection, and the remote possibility of airway obstruction due to bilateral vocal cord paralysis.

The first confirmed thyroidectomy was performed by Al-Zahrawi in 952 AD. Today, thyroidectomy is a common procedure with over 100,000 operations per year in the United States alone. Traditionally, the diseased portion of the thyroid has been removed through a neck incision that leaves a permanent scar. More recently, minimally invasive and "scarless" approaches, such as the trans-axillary approach (TAA), have offered better cosmetic outcomes and lower risk of complication.