Thyroidectomy

Thyroidectomy is performed for several indications including thyrotoxicosis, nodules showing equivocal/suspicious cytology, thyroid cancer and thyroids causing compression symptoms. The procedure has evolved over time and is now considered a safe procedure in experienced hands. The risks of surgery are, however, serious and therefore meticulous surgery is required. Thyroidectomy in retrosternal goitre may require an extra-cervical approach that the surgeon and patient need to be aware of. Recent changes to thyroid surgery include the increasing use of intraoperative nerve monitoring and pre- and postoperative laryngoscopy to accurately assess damage to the recurrent laryngeal nerve.