Thyroidectomy
|
|
A thyroidectomy involves the surgical removal all or part of the thyroid gland. Surgeons often perform a thyroidectomy when a patient has thyroid cancer or some other condition of the thyroid gland (such as hyperthyroidism).
The thyroid produces several hormones, such as thyroxine (T4), triiodothyronine (T3) and calcitonin.
After the removal of a thyroid patients usually take prescribed oral synthetic thyroid hormones to prevent the most serious manifestations of the resultant hypothyroidism.