Thyroidectomy

Thyroidectomy is the surgical removal of all or part of the thyroid gland, a butterfly-shaped gland located in the neck. This surgery is often performed to treat conditions like thyroid cancer, goiter, or hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid). Depending on the reason for surgery, either a portion (partial thyroidectomy) or the entire gland (total thyroidectomy) may be removed. Patients who undergo thyroidectomy may need to take thyroid hormone replacement medication for life if the entire gland is removed. Recovery from thyroidectomy typically involves a brief hospital stay, followed by a few weeks of rest.