Removal of the thyroid gland
Written by:The thyroid is a gland has two lobes joined by an isthmus located in the neck, in front of the trachea, and a discharge that is poured into the blood (for this reason it is called endocrine secretion).
Diseases of the thyroid gland
When the abnormal gland increases production of thyroid hormone reaches all affect metabolism and heart function. It is called hyperthyroidism. All functions of the body can be altered: arterial hypertension, tachycardia, weight loss, exophthalmos (eyes "bulge"), diarrhea, nervousness ...
Otherwise, the decrease or absence of thyroid hormone production, all bodily functions slow down, with a tendency to weight gain. It is called hypothyroidism.
Say the experts in General Surgery , the excessive increase of the gland can cause tracheal compression getting to have the patient feeling of "choking", mainly at night.
Removal of the thyroid gland
The removal of the thyroid gland may be partial or complete, and should be performed primarily in four circumstances:
- When malignancy (cancer) or suspected. In these cases, depending on the type of cancer, it may be necessary to make a lymphadenectomy, ie remove lymph why the tumor spreads.
- When hyperthyroidism, ie an excess of thyroid hormone production, which can damage heart function. When it is resistant to medical treatment (conservative) should be surgically treated.
- When growth is so great that cause compression of the trachea, esophagus or foreign body sensation in the throat. In these cases surgery "unzip" neck structures are deflected or compressed by increased thyroid.
- For aesthetic reasons, when the thyroid is enlarged so that, although not compress the viscera of the neck, it is an aesthetic loss in the patient.
