Thyroid issues may require treatment in the form of surgery. However, determining you have a thyroid issue which requires surgical treatment can be overwhelming or confusing without any prior knowledge of thyroid issues. Find out more about the reasons behind thyroid surgery with your doctor at West Coast Ear, Nose and Throat in Simi Valley, Oxnard, Camarillo and Thousand Oaks, CA.

Conditions Commonly Treated with Thyroid Surgery

• Thyroid Cancer: Surgery is a common form of treatment for thyroid cancer. Depending on the size and stage of the cancer, your doctor removes part or all of the thyroid gland.
• Hyperthyroidism: This condition occurs when the thyroid produces too much thyroid hormone. Surgery to remove the thyroid gland can treat hyperthyroidism.
• Thyroid Nodules: Nodules are common, abnormal growths of tissue on the thyroid gland. They present themselves as a lump on the throat and are surgically removed. About 95% of thyroid nodules are non-cancerous.

Diagnosing Thyroid Problems
Your doctor can help you decide if thyroid surgery is your best treatment option. Diagnosing a thyroid condition often involves a physical examination alongside various testing to determine the amount of thyroid hormone in the blood. The testing itself begins by drawing the patient’s blood and sending it to a laboratory for analysis. Additionally, imagining tests like ultrasounds or a CT scan can help your doctor diagnose a thyroid disorder.

Thyroid Surgery in Simi Valley, Oxnard, Camarillo and Thousand Oaks
Thyroid surgery, usually performed under general anesthesia, is an inpatient procedure commonly requiring patients to stay in the hospital for a day or two afterwards. Recovery depends on your general health, age and the type of surgery performed. The surgeon makes a small incision in the neck to expose the thyroid. Depending on the type of surgery required for your condition, the surgeon removes part or all of the thyroid. You should take any medication as prescribed following the surgery and plan for several weeks of recovery time.

For more information on thyroid surgery or the conditions which require it, please contact your doctor at West Coast Ear, Nose and Throat in Simi Valley, Oxnard, Camarillo and Thousand Oaks, CA. Call to schedule your consultation for thyroid surgery today.