Thyroid surgery is becoming more common due to rising rates of thyroid disease and cancer. If left undiagnosed and untreated, thyroid diseases can lead to various severe symptoms such as heart disease, irregular heartbeat, and vision changes.
Thyroid conditions affect millions of people – it’s estimated that up to 60% of thyroid disease cases remain undiagnosed, including some thyroid cancers. For many patients, thyroid disease is a lifelong condition requiring ongoing monitoring and treatment to maintain health.
If you have thyroid disease, your doctor may suggest thyroid surgery as part of your treatment plan. This surgery is often recommended to treat certain thyroid conditions. Learn about the typical reasons for thyroid surgery, and what to expect before, during, and after the procedure. If you’ve been diagnosed with thyroid disease, consider managing your health with an expert thyroid doctor in Singapore.
Your doctor may recommend surgery to remove part or all of your thyroid gland if it’s overactive or overgrown. It is advised if there are nodules, cysts or other cancerous growths. Thyroid doctors may recommend that you consider thyroid surgery for 4 main reasons:
- You have a nodule on your thyroid that could potentially be cancerous.
- You have been diagnosed with thyroid cancer.
- You have a nodule or goitre that is causing local symptoms – compression of the trachea, difficulty swallowing or a visible or unsightly mass.
- If you have a nodule or goitre that is producing too much thyroid hormone, causing symptoms, it could be a toxic nodule, toxic multinodular goitre, or Graves’ disease. Surgery is a more definitive option of treatment when compared to medical therapy.
Thyroid nodules are growths in your thyroid gland. That can either be filled with fluid or solid. They present as a lump on the thyroid and are typically non-cancerous, requiring no surgical intervention unless they cause symptoms. A benign nodule is also known as an adenoma. While most nodules are benign, there is a possibility of some being cancerous. Your doctor will aim to ensure your thyroid nodule is not cancerous through history taking, physical examination, ultrasound assessment and biopsy result.
Physical manifestations such as a raspy voice, difficulty in swallowing or breathing, and discomfort in the neck region serve as clear signs of the need for surgical intervention. If your thyroid nodule is visibly prominent and causes you to feel self-conscious about your physical appearance, thyroid surgery can be considered as an option.
Surgery is typically the recommended course of action for thyroid nodules that are malignant or highly suspicious of malignancy. Additionally, nodules with atypical or suspicious cells on biopsy often require thyroid removal. It is important to note that thyroid surgery is the primary method for treating thyroid cancer.
A small percentage of thyroid nodules are cancerous and necessitate surgical removal. At our facility in Singapore, we recognize the significance of thyroid health in overall well-being. That is why we provide advanced services such as thyroid surgery. Our focus is on delivering accurate diagnoses and personalized treatment plans. If our doctor detects nodules during a physical examination, we may suggest basic testing, including blood tests to assess thyroid hormone levels, a thyroid ultrasound, or a fine needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy. This minimally invasive procedure swiftly determines whether a nodule is benign or cancerous.
Manage Your Thyroid Health
Thyroid surgery is essential for treating malignant thyroid nodules and other types of thyroid cancer. The removal of cancerous tissue and affected thyroid tissue through surgery is necessary to achieve a cure for thyroid cancer. The presence of a lump on the neck and experiencing pain in the neck, ear, or jaw may indicate thyroid cancer. The extent of thyroid gland removal depends on the specific location of the cancer. Detecting thyroid cancer cannot be accomplished through blood tests or thyroid panels. Typically, it is identified through a physical examination, ultrasound of the neck and thyroid as well as a needle biopsy.
Well-trained, high-volume surgeons are the only ones who should perform thyroid surgery for the treatment and cure of thyroid disease. At Crest Surgical Practice, we are backed by esteemed thyroid specialist, Dr TAN Wee Boon. We are committed to provide comprehensive care for patients suffering from thyroid issues. We provide complete thyroid treatment at our medical facilities. Call us at +65 6908 9800 to schedule an appointment.