Hemithyroidectomy

Home Specialties Surgical OncologyHemithyroidectomy

The thyroid gland is situated in the lower part of the front of the neck. A hemithyroidectomy is the removal of one of the lobes and part of the isthmus of the thyroid gland. There are different reasons for performing a hemithyroidectomy.

Thyroid cancer - removal of one of the lobes allows this tissue to be analyzed by the laboratory. If it is found to be benign (not cancerous), no further action is taken, If it is found to be malignant (cancerous), the other half of the thyroid is taken out as well.
Compression - A nodule in the thyroid may enlarge to such an extent that surrounding structures are compressed in the neck. These structures may include the trachea (windpipe) or oesophagus (gullet).
Hyperthyroidism - A nodule in the thyroid gland may produce excessive thyroid hormone.
Cosmetic - an enlarged thyroid may cause a lump on the front of the neck that a patient may consider unsightly.

Click here to view image - Thyroid Gland

Procedure

The standard neck incision is made typically measuring about 4-5 inches in length although many endocrine surgeons are now performing this operation through an incision as small as 3 inches. This incision is made in the lower part of the central neck and usually heals very well. The surgeon will then typically remove the part of the thyroid which contains the problem. For thyroid cancer, this will usually entail the entire thyroid lobe which harbors the malignancy and the isthmus. The surgeon is careful of the recurrent laryngeal nerves which are very close to the back side of the thyroid and are responsible for movement of the vocal cords. Damage to this nerve will cause hoarseness of the voice which is usually temporary but can be permanent. The surgeon will also be careful to identify the parathyroid glands so their blood supply can be maintained.