Thyroid surgery is sometimes used to treat conditions that affect the thyroid gland. Physicians typically prefer to avoid treating thyroid conditions with surgery whenever possible. However, surgery is usually necessary in patients with thyroid cancer and for patients whose thyroid condition fails to respond to other treatment methods.

The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland that sits just below the Adam’s apple in the neck. It secretes hormones that regulate a person’s metabolism, the physical and chemical processes necessary for the maintenance of life. Various disorders may affect the thyroid and prevent or cause excessive release of these hormones. This alters a person’s metabolism and may lead to significant health problems.

Surgery may be used to treat various cancerous (malignant) and noncancerous (benign) thyroid conditions. Most often, it is used to treat growths of cells in the thyroid that form a lump (thyroid nodules). Surgery is typically recommended if cancer is discovered and is usually recommended if cancer is suspected. Additional options for cancer  after surgery is performed include thyroid hormone therapy, radioactive iodine therapy, external-beam radiation therapy or chemotherapy.  

If analysis reveals that the nodule tissue is noncancerous (benign), experts generally recommend alternative therapies such as antithyroid medications or no treatment. However, surgery sometimes is performed if the benign nodule continues to grow larger or if it causes pain, swallowing problems or other significant symptoms.

Other thyroid conditions that may require surgery include:

• Enlarged thyroid (goiter). This can be felt or even seen as a swelling at the base of the neck. It often results from hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid gland) or hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid gland). Surgery is usually used for this condition if the goiter becomes so large that it impairs a patient’s ability to breathe, or if it impinges upon the esophagus or blood vessels. Surgery may also be recommended if other treatments, such as medications, fail to work.
  
  
• Hyperthyroidism. Hyperthyroidism is a condition in which overactivity of the thyroid gland causes too much thyroid hormone to build up in the bloodstream. As a result, processes in the body speed up. Left untreated, hyperthyroidism can have serious health consequences.
  
  
• Thyroiditis. Inflammation of the thyroid requires surgery only in unusual cases. For example, a rare condition called Riedel’s thyroiditis can spread in the neck and impede swallowing or breathing, necessitating surgery to remove all or part of the inflamed thyroid.

Surgery may also be recommended if the patient’s thyroid disorder cannot be controlled with medication because of pregnancy or other conditions.