1.
TYPES OF
THYROIDECTOMY
Frank Brettschneider

2.
Introduction
■ A board-certified otolaryngologist, Dr. Frank Brettschneider has led as
president of Port Huron Ear, Nose, andThroat for more than 27 years.
There, Dr. Frank Brettschneider offers services including surgical
treatment of the larynx, salivary glands, and thyroid.
There are several reasons a physician may recommend thyroid surgery.
Often, the recommendation is in response to diagnosed thyroid cancer or
a potentially cancerous nodule. In other cases, the patient has developed a
nodule or goiter compressing the thyroid in a way that directly causes
difficulty swallowing or other discomfort, or stimulates the release of
excess thyroid hormone.
If a patient has a large goiter or tumor that involves both halves of the
thyroid, his or her physician is likely to recommend a total thyroidectomy,
or full removal of the gland. In addition, current standards of practice
suggest a patient with a diagnosed cancer prior to surgery undergo a total
thyroidectomy.

3.
Thyroidectomy
■ If the patient has a growth confined to only one side of the
thyroid and does not have a cancer diagnosis, a
hemithyroidectomy may be more appropriate.Also known as a
thyroid lobectomy, this procedure allows the surgeon to
remove only one of the two thyroid lobes.
Finally, if the patient has a very small tumor in the isthmus - the
bridge of tissue between the lobes - the patient may undergo
an isthmusectomy.This procedure also may be part of a total
surgical plan that includes a lobectomy. In some cases, the
patient may undergo removal of part of the other lobe as well.