Goitre surgery

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

Surgery can be used for patients with

• A large goiter that is uncomfortable or causes difficulty breathing or swallowing
• Nodular goiter causing hyperthyroidism
• Thyroid cancer

But removal of a goitre requires removing the thyroid. The complete removal of the thyroid gland removes the body’s ability to produce thyroid hormone. In this case, oral thyroxine supplements are necessary to avoid harm from hypothyroidism.

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