If you need to have thyroid surgery, you want the highest quality care available. At Ryan R. Stevens, M.D. in Corvallis, Oregon, Dr. Stevens relies on his decades of experience as an ear, nose, and throat specialist to treat a wide range of conditions, including those affecting your thyroid. To learn more about diagnosing and treating thyroid disorders, call the office or schedule an appointment online today.
Your thyroid is a small gland in the base of your neck that’s part of your endocrine system. Similar in shape to a butterfly, your thyroid makes all of the hormones your body needs to control and regulate your metabolism.
There are several thyroid disorders, including:
The treatment of a thyroid disorder varies depending on your specific condition. Conservative therapies generally include medications. In other cases, Dr. Stevens recommends thyroid surgery.
Dr. Stevens generally recommends thyroid surgery, or thyroidectomy, to treat a variety of thyroid conditions, including:
To determine if thyroid surgery is necessary, Dr. Stevens might recommend an in-office fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNA or FNAB). This simple and safe procedure uses ultrasound guidance to collect tissue samples from your thyroid gland with a needle.
During thyroid surgery, Dr. Stevens removes either the entirety or a portion of your thyroid gland. Thyroid surgery generally takes a couple of hours under general anesthesia.
Based on your condition, Dr. Stevens might take one of several approaches during your thyroid surgery. A conventional method uses an incision in the center of your neck to access your thyroid gland. Less invasive techniques include endoscopic and robotic-supported surgery. These procedures use smaller incisions, tiny video cameras, and small surgical instruments to perform the procedure.
After you’re sedated, Dr. Stevens creates a tiny incision in the center of your neck or around your thyroid depending on your condition and the surgical technique. If cancer is suspected, Dr. Stevens might also evaluate and remove lymph nodes near your thyroid.
It’s common to experience a hoarse or weak voice as well as neck pain after thyroid surgery. In most cases, after a day or two, you’re released from the hospital and can resume normal activities. However, you should avoid strenuous activities for up to two weeks.
To learn more about thyroid surgery, call Ryan R. Stevens, M.D. or schedule an appointment online today.
