The thyroid gland is one of the largest endocrine glands in the body. This gland is found in the lower portion of the neck, over the windpipe. The thyroid controls how quickly the body burns energy, makes proteins, and how sensitive the body should be to other hormones. The function of the thyroid therefore is to regulate the body's metabolism.

Thyroid disorders

The thyroid gland is prone to several very distinct problems, some of which are extremely common. Increased growth of the thyroid can cause compression of important neck structures or a mass in the neck, the formation of nodules or lumps within the thyroid (which are worrisome for the presence of thyroid cancer), and nodules or lumps which are cancerous.

Common disorders include:

Goiters - A thyroid goiter is a benign, but dramatic enlargement of the thyroid gland.

Thyroid Cancer - Thyroid cancer is a fairly common malignancy, however, the vast majority have excellent long term survival rates.

Solitary Thyroid Nodules - There are several characteristics of solitary nodules of the thyroid which make them suspicious for malignancy. Although as many as 50% of the population will have a nodule somewhere in their thyroid, the overwhelming majority of these are benign. Occasionally, thyroid nodules can take on characteristics of malignancy and require either a needle biopsy or surgical excision.

Hyperthyroidism - Hyperthyroidism means too much thyroid hormone, which causes an overstimulation of the body's metabolism.

Hypothyroidism - Hypothyroidism means too little thyroid hormone and is a common problem. It causes a slowing down of the body's metabolism.

Thyroiditis - Thyroiditis is an inflammatory process ongoing within the thyroid gland. It can cause a variety of symptoms.

Surgical treatment of thyroid disease

Which operation is performed on a thyroid gland depends upon 2 major factors. The first is the thyroid disease that is present which is necessitating the operation. Different diseases may necessitate different surgeries. The second is the anatomy of the thyroid gland itself. If a dominant solitary nodule is present in a single lobe, then removal of that lobe is the preferred operation (if an operation is even warranted). If a massive goiter is compressing the trachea and esophagus, the goal of surgery will be to remove the mass and usually this means a sub-total or total thyroidectomy (although occasionally a lobectomy will suffice). If a "hot" nodule is producing too much hormone resulting in hyperthyroidism, then removal of the lobe which harbors the hot nodule is all that is needed. In virtually all cases of thyroid carcinoma, a total or near total thyroidectomy is the recommended procedure. In some patients with papillary carcinomas of small size, a less aggressive approach may be taken (lobectomy with removal of the isthmus).