Why is surgery necessary for a goitre?
There are a number of reasons why a thyroid operation is considered in patients with an enlarged thyroid; • There may be pressure on the trachea (windpipe) with difficulty in breathing • There may be pressure on the oesophagus (foodpipe) with difficulty in swallowing • There may be concern about thyroid cancer • The goitre may result in cosmetic embarrassment. Why is surgery necessary for an overactive thyroid? Surgery is one of a number of ways to treat an overactive thyroid and your surgeon will discuss the advantages and disadvantages of each option before a decision about thyroidectomy is taken. How is a diagnosis of thyroid cancer made? Thyroid lumps (goitre) are very common whereas thyroid cancer is very rare. The best way to determine whether a lump is benign or malignant is to undertake a biopsy of the lump using a fine needle. This test is simple, relatively painless and can be undertaken in the outpatient clinic. Will I need to take thyroxine replacement after surgery? The no
