Best Doctor For Thyroid Surgery

Best Doctors For Thyroid

Thyroid surgery – choosing the best thyroid surgeon

List of best Thyroid Cancer Surgery Doctors from trusted hospitals in Chennai. Get detailed info on educational qualification, experience and other credentials of Thyroid Cancer Surgery Doctors in Chennai. Check OPD schedule and book appointment online with best Thyroid Cancer Surgery from top hospitals in Chennai. Call 8010- 994- 994 to talk to in-house Credihealth experts for FREE medical assistance to choose the right Thyroid Cancer Surgery, get options for Second Opinion or other other medical assistance.

What Is An Endocrinologist

An endocrinologist is a medical specialist who treats people with a range of conditions that are caused by problems with hormones, such as diabetes, menopause and thyroid problems.

Hormones are part of theendocrine system, series of glands that produce and secrete hormones that control many different bodily functions. The endocrine system includes:

the pituitary gland

Removing Your Thyroid Gland

Thyroid surgery is done through an incision in the lower part of the front of your neck. It takes about 2 to 3 hours.

During your surgery, your surgeon will examine your whole thyroid gland and remove the parts that have cancer. Theyll also check the lymph nodes next to your thyroid gland and remove any that have or might have cancer cells.

If half of your thyroid is removed, its called a lobectomy or hemi-thyroidectomy.
If your whole thyroid is removed, its called a total thyroidectomy.

Your surgeon will talk with you before your surgery so you know what to expect.

Nerve injuries

There are 2 nerves very close to your thyroid gland that help your larynx work. These nerves are called the recurrent laryngeal nerve and the superior laryngeal nerve. They may be affected during your thyroid surgery.

Your recurrent laryngeal nerve goes behind your thyroid to your voice box. If your tumor is close to this nerve or this nerve is injured during your surgery, your vocal cords could be damaged. This can make your voice hoarse. Voice hoarseness is common after thyroid surgery and usually goes away with time.
Your superior laryngeal nerve helps you raise the volume and pitch of your voice. If this nerve gets weak or injured, the pitch and tone of your voice can be affected. This may make it hard for you to raise your voice or sing.

Hypocalcemia

Don’t Miss: Graves Thyroid Eye Disease Symptoms

Research Credentials And Experience

Take time to research the doctors credentials and experience. Look for a surgeon who is board certified in otolaryngology or general surgery and performs thyroid removal on a regular basis. You may want to look for a surgeon who is board certified in pediatric otolaryngology for a child who needs thyroid surgery. The more experience a doctor has performing thyroidectomy, the better prepared the doctor is to anticipate and prevent complications.

Also, confirm that the doctor is in good standing with state and federal agencies and that he or she has no history of malpractice claims or disciplinary actions. Youll find all this information on Healthgrades.com.

What Type Of Doctor Treats Hashimotos Disease

Steven E. Rodgers, MD, PhD Thyroid Surgery in Miami

You may be asking yourself, what are the top doctors for Hashimotos disease near me? Or, which specialist for Hashimotos disease should I choose?

Figuring out what type of doctor to see for your Hashimotos thyroiditis can be a little confusing, as there is more than one type of doctor who can treat and manage this condition.

Doctors specializing in Hashimotos disease come down to two types: a primary care doctor and an endocrinologist .

Primary doctor

Primary doctors are your first point of contact for an undiagnosed health problem and the continued management of various health disorders.

Endocrinologist

Endocrinologists are doctors who have special training in diagnosing and treating endocrine system disorders, including Hashimotos disease.

The endocrine system makes up your organs and glands that make hormones. These disorders include infertility, diabetes, along with adrenal, pituitary, and other thyroid gland issues like hyperthyroidism.

Along with performing a medical examination and taking your complete medical history, diagnostic procedures for this condition may include blood testing to detect levels of thyroid antibodies and thyroid hormones. Usually, a primary care doctor can manage this condition.

Your doctor may prescribe you a synthetic thyroid hormone replacement drug to help replace what your body isnt producing. However, there are times when youll need to see a thyroid specialist and/or receive a second opinion.

When to get a second opinion

Will I Be Able To Lead A Normal Life After Surgery

Yes. Once you have recovered from the effects of thyroid surgery, you will usually be able to do anything that you could do prior to surgery. Some patients become hypothyroid following thyroid surgery, requiring treatment with thyroid hormone . This is especially true if you had your whole thyroid gland removed. Generally, you will be started on thyroid hormone the day after surgery, even if there are plans for treatment with radioactive iodine.

How To Find A Top Thyroid Surgeon

Having an Experienced Surgeon Reduces Your Risk of Complications

Narrowing Your Search

If you’ve been diagnosed with thyroid cancer, or have one of a number of other thyroid conditions, your healthcare provider may recommend surgery. There are several different surgical procedures involving the thyroid, and your diagnosis will determine which one is appropriate for you. For the best outcome, it is important to find an experienced, top-notch thyroid surgeonone that has not only performed your procedure but has done it many times, among other qualifications.

Verywell / Laura Porter

Don’t Miss: How To Get My Thyroid Levels Up

How To Order Your Lab Tests

If your doctor is ordering thyroid labs for you, be sure to request a copy so that you can see them for yourself and ensure that they are interpreted correctly.

Additionally, I have included self-order options for most of the labs discussed, in case your current doctor wont order the labs for you.

The self-order options are discounted panels that I set up with Ulta Labs and can be ordered almost anywhere in the U.S. . You will receive a lab order that can be taken to your local lab, and the results will be sent to you electronically.

You can order each individual test that I recommend below, or you can order the entire discounted panel here.

In many cases, you can self-order the labs and then send the receipts for reimbursement to your insurance.

Now, lets take a look at each thyroid test and what they mean for your thyroid health.

Dont Miss: What Blood Tests Are Done For Thyroid

Does This Treatment Follow Published Guidelines

How do I find the best thyroid doctor?

Professional associations for medical specialtiessuch as the American Thyroid Association regularly review the latest research and set treatment guidelines for achieving the best patient outcomes. You want to be sure your surgeon is familiar with and using the published guidelines, said Stang. You can check the guidelines on the ATA website.

Don’t Miss: How To Heal The Thyroid

How Do You Prepare For Thyroid Surgery

Surgery can be stressful. This information will help you understand what you can expect. And it will help you safely prepare for surgery.

Preparing for surgery

Be sure you have someone to take you home. Anesthesia and pain medicine will make it unsafe for you to drive or get home on your own.
Understand exactly what surgery is planned, along with the risks, benefits, and other options.
Tell your doctor ALL the medicines, vitamins, supplements, and herbal remedies you take. Some may increase the risk of problems during your procedure. Your doctor will tell you if you should stop taking any of them before the procedure and how soon to do it.
If you take a medicine that prevents blood clots, your doctor may tell you to stop taking it before your surgery. Or your doctor may tell you to keep taking it. Make sure that you understand exactly what your doctor wants you to do.
Make sure your doctor and the hospital have a copy of your advance directive. If you donât have one, you may want to prepare one. It lets others know your health care wishes. Itâs a good thing to have before any type of surgery or procedure.

Pain Management At Home

Take NSAIDS like ibuprofen , naproxen or acetaminophen for the first 3-5 days as needed. Take medication as directed on the medication container. To prevent acetaminophen overdose, do not take acetaminophen when you are taking the pain reliever – Percocet – that was prescribed on your discharge from the hospital. They both contain acetaminophen. If you take the Percocet or any other narcotic – DO NOT drive a car or drink alcohol.

Thyroid Nodules And Treatment: Get The Facts

For many patients, being told they have athyroid nodule instantly raises red flags. DoI have cancer? Will I need surgery? Should I be worried?

The answer to these questions is usually, butnot always, no. Thyroid nodules are lumps that form within your thyroid, abutterfly shaped gland located at the base of your neck. Nodules can be solidor contain a variable amount of fluid. If they are completely fluid-filled,they are called thyroid cysts.

Thyroid nodules are more common in womencompared to men and more likely to occur as you get older. The exact reason whysome people get thyroid nodules and others dont is not known, but nodules tendto run in families.

Most thyroid nodules are benign and cause no problems if left untreated. However, approximately 5 to 10 percent of thyroid nodules are cancerous but even then, a patient might not need surgery right away because most thyroid cancers grow slowly.

If you have been diagnosed with a thyroid nodule, the first step is to see an endocrinologist a doctor who specializes in conditions of the endocrine glands, such as the thyroid.

Most thyroid nodules are benign and cause no problems if left untreated. However, approximately 5 to 10 percent of thyroid nodules are cancerous but even then, a patient might not need surgery right away because most thyroid cancers grow slowly.

Iram Hussain, M.D.

Choosing A Healthcare Provider

Once you know what type of healthcare provider you wish to see, there are several things to consider before you make your appointment. This is an important decision for several reasons. Not only is thyroid disease something that often requires long-term care, but it isn’t always easy to treatand working to find an effective treatment can make a difference in outcomes.

You May Like: Thyroid Cancer In The Neck

Determine Your Insurance Benefit

Your insurance coverage is a practical matter. To receive the most insurance benefits and pay the least out-of-pocket for your surgery, you need to choose a surgeon that participates in your plan. But keep in mind, just because a doctor participates in your insurance plan doesnt mean he or she is a high-quality doctor. You still need to consider the doctors experience and expertise.

What Type Of Thyroid Surgery Am I A Candidate For

Conventional thyroid surgery is done through an incision in the front of the neck. The size of the incision depends on factors such as how large your thyroid is and whether the surgeon needs to remove lymph nodes.

If your thyroid isnt very large, and no lymph nodes are involved, you may be a candidate for minimal-access surgery. Said Kazaure, We use a small incision typically in a neck crease, which minimizes the scar. The incision is directly over the thyroid, making it easy for the surgeon to access the gland.

Another approach is robot-assisted surgery. The surgeon controls a robotic system that directs the movements of small instruments inserted into an incision under your arm. Using the systems high-definition 3D vision technology, the surgeon guides the instruments under your skin to your thyroid, avoiding a neck scar. Some patients are candidates for this procedure, as long as the thyroid isnt too big, said Stang, who has extensive experience with this technique. However, if its thyroid cancer and its too advanced or has spread beyond the thyroid, then a conventional surgical approach is best.

Recommended Reading: Can Thyroid Problems Affect Eyesight

When Would I Need A Thyroidectomy Surgery

Your healthcare provider may recommend thyroidectomy for any of the following reasons:

You have a nodule on your thyroid that might be thyroid cancer.
You have a diagnosis of thyroid cancer.
You have a large nodule or goiter thats compressing your trachea or esophagus and making it difficult to breathe or swallow.
You have a nodule or goiter thats releasing excess thyroid hormone, resulting in hyperthyroidism, and its not responding to other treatment options.

The Best Parathyroid Surgeons In The World: Jim Norman Jamie Mitchell Kevin Parrack Dan Ruan Tobias Carling Hyun Suh Drew Rhodes And Luke Watkins

Thyroid Nodule Surgery with Surgeon Dr. Robert Pollard

The eight surgeons at the Norman Parathyroid Center have more experience with parathyroid disease and parathyroid surgery than anyone else. All of our surgeons have dedicated their surgical careers to one disease: hyperparathyroidism. All trained at the best surgical centers and all are members of all the most important societies. Seven of the 8 were the chief of endocrine surgery at a major US University before they joined our team. All have been chosen as “top doctors” and “top surgeons” numerous times. This is all we do, and we perform parathyroid surgery different than all other surgeons in the world, including the fact that every operation has at least two of the best surgeons checking each gland. No other surgeons go through the steps we take to attain the highest level of care which is why we perform about 80 parathyroid operations per week, about 10% of all in the US. Treating patients like a member of our own family is always our number 1 goal, and our promise to you. A short bio of each surgeon is below.

What Are The Types Of Thyroid Surgeries

Total Thyroidectomy:This is a surgery in which the entire gland is removed. This type of Surgery is done when there is a strong suspicion of cancer in the gland. After this surgery you will need to take thyroid hormone replacement medication for the rest of your life. Your TSH levels will be normalised and you will no longer have any trace of Hyperthyroidism or Graves Disease. This surgery is also indicated for people who experience severe side effects due to the presence of excess thyroid hormone in their body. Total Thyroidectomy is the most effective treatment for thyroid problems and can cure you completely from these diseases.Thyroid Lobectomy- partial thyroidectomyThis removes only a portion of the thyroid gland. This type of surgery is recommended for patients who have a small thyroid gland and/or no nodules on their thyroid. It is performed to remove cancerous tumors that affect a large part of the thyroid gland.Completion thyroidectomy:This is an operation that is done for patients who have had a previous thyroid surgery. In this case, the surgeon removes all the residual thyroid tissue that may remain after the initial thyroid surgery. After this surgery you will need to take thyroid hormone replacement medication for the rest of your life.

What Is A Thyroid Disorder

The most common disorders of the thyroid are hypothyroidism , and hyperthyroidism . A patient may also have a goiter or nodules, when part of the thyroid gland becomes inflamed leading to coughing and difficulty swallowing or breathing.

Thyroid cancer can kill normally functioning thyroid cells and form tumors. Hashimotos is a more difficult condition in which the bodys immune system itself attacks the thyroid.

Also Check: Thyroid Cancer Percentage Of Survival

When Is Thyroid Surgery Needed

To decide on the best course of treatment, each patient is carefully evaluated. If surgery is recommended, your surgeon will discuss the appropriate surgical options with you. Surgical options range from removing only the side of the thyroid gland that contains the nodule to removing the entire thyroid gland . For patients with nodules that need to be removed, some of these surgeries can be performed as a minimally invasive procedure. Depending on the situation and the procedure performed, some patients may be sent home the same day while others remain in the hospital overnight and are sent home the next morning.

What Are The Types Of Thyroidectomies

Five Important Things Your Thyroid Surgeon Maybe Not Telling You

There are two main categories of thyroidectomies: Total and partial.

Types of partial thyroidectomies, which involve removal of part of your thyroid include:

Hemi-thyroidectomy or thyroid lobectomy: The surgeon removes one lobe of your thyroid.
Isthmusectomy: The surgeon removes the thyroid tissue between the two lobes . Surgeons perform this surgery specifically for small tumors that are located in the isthmus.
Open thyroid biopsy: In this operation, the surgeon removes a thyroid nodule directly. Surgeons rarely perform this surgery.

A total or near-total thyroidectomy is the surgical removal of all or most of your thyroid tissue.

The type of thyroidectomy you need depends on the reason for the surgery. For example, if you have a nodule on one side of your thyroid, you may need a hemithyroidectomy to remove the affected lobe. If you have a large goiter or a large cancerous tumor, youll likely need a total thyroidectomy.

Together, you, your endocrinologist and your surgeon will determine the best surgery plan for you.

Don’t Miss: Thyroid Cancer Signs To Never Ignore