THYROID SURGERY: What you need to know and what to ask your surgeon

The thyroid gland is an important gland in your body located in the lower half of your neck. It has a left side, a right side and a middle called the “isthmus.” It makes thyroid hormone and is responsible for regulating metabolism. Just like any other part of the body, sometimes things can go wrong with the thyroid that require its removal. Thyroid surgery is performed for non-cancerous reasons such as nodules (a solid or fluid-filled abnormal growth of thyroid cells that forms a lump within the thyroid gland) cysts, large thyroids (goiters) and an overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism) as well as for cancers of the thyroid.