Can thyroid and parathyroid be removed?
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The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland in the neck that produces hormones. These hormones help the body use energy. Around the thyroid are four parathyroid glands, which also produce hormones. Parathyroid hormone helps the body control how much calcium is in the blood. Surgery may be part of the treatment plan for children with illnesses of the thyroid or parathyroid glands. Show
Thyroid surgery involves removing part or all of the thyroid. Parathyroid surgery involves removing one or more of the four small parathyroid glands that surround the thyroid. Surgeons at Riley at IU Health perform thyroid and parathyroid surgery to treat:
Surgery may be right for your child if:
Surgery is typically the last treatment option for many thyroid and parathyroid conditions. What to ExpectWhat to ExpectBefore the procedure, your child’s doctor will give you instructions on what your child can eat and drink in the hours leading up to surgery. When it is time to start the surgery, a pediatric anesthesiologist will give your child surgical anesthesia. This means your child will be asleep during the procedure. The anesthesiologist will monitor your child throughout the procedure. During the procedure, the surgical team will monitor the function of nerves close to the thyroid gland. The surgeon will make a small incision in the neck. Depending on which illness is being treated with surgery, the surgeon may remove:
Thyroid and parathyroid surgery usually takes a few hours. Your child may have a temporary drain placed near the incision in the neck to help it heal and prevent blood clots and swelling. This drain and the gauze that covers it are usually removed the next day after surgery. Your child may be hoarse or have neck pain for a short while after surgery. Talk to your child’s doctor or nurse about when it is safe to eat and drink normally. After a short hospital stay, your child should be able to go home. Most kids can get back to their normal activities within 10 days. After surgery, your child may need to start taking medicines that replace the hormones that the thyroid and parathyroid glands would normally produce. Key Points to RememberKey Points to Remember
Traditional thyroidectomies and parathyroidectomies leave a visible scar in the middle of the neck. But, advancements in endocrine surgery at Johns Hopkins allow our surgeons to provide a scarless alternative to this procedure. In a scarless thyroidectomy, or scarless parathyroidectomy, the surgeon accesses the gland(s) through the patient’s mouth (called a “transoral” approach.)
Why Choose Johns Hopkins for a Scarless Thyroidectomy or Parathyroidectomy?Patients seeking surgical removal of their thyroid or parathyroid can take comfort knowing Johns Hopkins is the leading scarless thyroidectomy and parathyroidectomy center in the United States, completing hundreds of these cases since 2016. Johns Hopkins was also the first hospital to offer a robotic option for scarless thyroidectomy, including utilization of the new Single Port robot. Am I a Candidate for a Scarless Thyroidectomy or Parathyroidectomy?Candidates for this procedure may include patients diagnosed with:
Additional screening may be required to determine candidacy. Consult with one of our surgeons for more information. Comparing Results of Traditional Thyroidectomy and a Scarless ThyroidectomyPatients can take comfort knowing their surgery won't leave a lasting mark. This can be especially important to those concerned that a surgical scar may be accompanied by a lifetime of burdensome questions. Left: Traditional Surgery | Right: Scarless Surgery On the left, a traditional thyroidectomy which leaves a scar across the neck. On the right, Kristin Sepulveda four weeks after her scarless thyroidectomy procedure performed by Jonathon Russell, M.D.  Left: Traditional Surgery | Right: Scarless Surgery On the left, a traditional thyroidectomy which leaves a scar across the neck. On the right, Kristin Sepulveda four weeks after her scarless thyroidectomy procedure performed by Jonathon Russell, M.D. On the left, a traditional thyroidectomy which leaves a scar across the neck. On the right, Kristin Sepulveda four weeks after her scarless thyroidectomy procedure performed by Jonathon Russell, M.D. On the left, a traditional thyroidectomy which leaves a scar across the neck. On the right, Kristin Sepulveda four weeks after her scarless thyroidectomy procedure performed by Jonathon Russell, M.D. Thyroid and Parathyroid SpecialistsPatient StoryScarless ParathyroidectomyGwen contacted Jonathon Russell, M.D., to have her thyroid removed after she was diagnosed with a thyroid nodule. Further examination revealed it was her parathyroid that needed to be removed and a scarless surgery was available. Gwen elected to have the scarless surgery. The results: like nothing ever happened. Learn more about Gwen and her care at Johns Hopkins. Multidisciplinary ApproachThe Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery works with the Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center in a multidisciplinary approach to ensure the highest quality patient care and innovative research. Learn more about the multidisciplinary head and neck cancer team at the Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center. Can you live without a thyroid and parathyroid?Thyroid disease is common, and in some cases may require removal of your thyroid (thyroidectomy). Fortunately, you can live without your thyroid. You will need long-term thyroid hormone replacement therapy to give you the hormone your thyroid normally produces.
Can a person live without parathyroid glands?You can easily live with one (or even 1/2) parathyroid gland. Removing all 4 parathyroid glands will cause very bad symptoms of too little calcium (hypOparathyroidism).
What happens if the parathyroid gland is removed?What are the side effects of a parathyroidectomy? You may experience temporary changes to your voice, including hoarseness, which generally improves within the first month after your surgery. You may also experience temporary low blood calcium levels, which can often be managed with calcium supplements.
When should a parathyroid be removed?You might also need parathyroid gland removal if you have: tumors called adenomas, which are most often benign and rarely turn into cancer. cancerous tumors on or near the glands. parathyroid hyperplasia, a condition in which all four of the parathyroid glands are enlarged.
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