Surgery is the primary treatment for most thyroid cancers. At Penn Medicine, our surgeons work together to create personalized treatment plans that eliminate cancer and help maintain thyroid function.
The Penn Medicine Difference
Our multispecialty surgical team includes experts in endocrine surgery (surgical oncology) and otorhinolaryngology (head and neck surgery.) Our surgeons are leaders in national organizations such as the American Association of Endocrine Surgeons, American Head and Neck Society, and the American Thyroid Association. Meet your thyroid cancer care team.
As a high-volume thyroid cancer surgery center, surgeons in the Abramson Cancer Center complete hundreds of thyroid removal surgeries each year. You're in expert hands with our experienced team.
Types of Thyroid Cancer Surgery
Our surgeons focus on preserving your thyroid whenever possible using techniques that spare healthy tissue. We talk with your endocrinologist about the tumor's location and whether cancer has spread to other parts of your body (cancer stage).
We review ultrasound images of your thyroid and laboratory test results (pathology) to recommend the right surgical treatment for you. Our thyroid specialists collaborate to ensure you get the right care at the right time.
Thyroidectomy
Thyroidectomy is thyroid removal surgery. Surgeons determine how much of the thyroid to remove depending on the tumor's location, size and stage.
Doctors make a small incision (less than two inches) to remove all or part of the thyroid gland. The incision is usually placed in line with your natural neck creases so any scar is less visible.
Thyroidectomy types include:
- Total thyroidectomy: In total thyroidectomy, surgeons remove the entire thyroid gland. Most patients spend only one night in the hospital or go home the day of thyroidectomy. After total thyroidectomy, you'll need to take thyroid hormone therapy for thyroid cancer every day for life.
- Partial thyroidectomy: For some tumors, we remove only the side of the thyroid where cancer occurs. Lobectomy is surgery in which we remove one of the thyroid's two lobes. Partial thyroidectomy is outpatient surgery; you go home the same day. Depending on how much of the thyroid we remove and your hormone levels, you may need to take daily thyroid hormone therapy for life.
Isthmusectomy
Thyroid cancer may occur in the tissue that connects the gland's two lobes over the windpipe (isthmus). Surgeons may remove only the bridge of tissue, known as isthmusectomy.
Lymphadenectomy
When thyroid cancer spreads to lymph nodes in the neck, surgeons remove the affected nodes (lymphadenectomy). Sometimes, experts remove all the lymph nodes next to the thyroid, known as central compartment neck dissection. When the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes on the side of the neck, surgeons remove these nodes through a slightly longer incision. This surgery helps reduce the risk of thyroid cancer coming back (recurrence).
When thyroid cancer affects lymph nodes, doctors may recommend radioactive iodine therapy for thyroid cancer after surgery to eliminate cancer cells that may remain.
Side Effects of Thyroid Surgery
Our surgeons are experts in preserving the blood vessels, nerves and other structures in the neck during thyroid surgery. These structures include the:
- Laryngeal nerve: Controls muscles in the larynx
- Parathyroid glands: Make parathyroid hormone that regulates calcium and phosphorous levels
- Voice box (larynx): Contains vocal cords that produce sounds
- Windpipe (trachea): Warms and moistens air as it moves to the lungs
After thyroid surgery, some people may experience side effects. These can include:
- Hoarseness
- Loss of voice
- Nerve weakness
- Paresthesias (pins and needles feeling) due to low calcium levels
- Trouble swallowing
Penn speech language pathology experts provide speech and swallowing therapy for people who experience vocal symptoms after thyroid cancer surgery. These therapists also provide exercises to strengthen muscles and restore swallowing function.
Other Thyroid Cancer Treatments
Penn experts treat most thyroid cancers with surgery. Depending on whether cancer has spread, we may recommend additional therapies for thyroid cancer treatment.
Support Services
We offer thyroid cancer support services for you and your loved ones during and after treatment. Our nurse navigators and social workers connect you with information, resources and cancer support groups.
Meet Our Thyroid Cancer Surgeons
Our thyroid cancer surgery team includes surgeons with different subspecialties. Learn more about our thyroid cancer surgeons and thyroid surgery at Penn Medicine.
Make an Appointment
Please call 800-789-7366 or request a callback.