Thyroidectomy
What is Thyroidectomy?
A thyroidectomy is a surgical procedure to remove part or all of the thyroid gland, located in the neck, which regulates metabolism through hormone production (T3, T4). It’s commonly performed to treat thyroid cancer, benign nodules, goiter, or hyperthyroidism. In India, thyroidectomies are performed in endocrine surgery or ENT departments at hospitals like Apollo, Fortis, Medanta, and AIIMS, often at affordable costs. Understanding the procedure, costs, recovery, risks, and FAQs is essential for patients.
Why do you need Thyroidectomy?
Thyroidectomy is indicated for:
- Thyroid cancer:
- Papillary (80% of cases) or follicular thyroid cancer (10–15%); medullary (5%).
- Incidence in India: 1–2 per 100,000; more common in women.
- 5-year survival: 95–98% for localized cancer (papillary/follicular).
- Benign conditions:
- Thyroid nodules (if suspicious for cancer or causing symptoms; 5–10% of nodules are malignant).
- Goiter (enlarged thyroid causing compression, e.g., difficulty swallowing).
- Hyperthyroidism (e.g., Graves’ disease, if unresponsive to medication; 5–10% need surgery).
- Associated treatments:
- Lymph node dissection (central or lateral, as in your neck dissection query) for cancer staging.
- Radioactive iodine (RAI) therapy post-op for thyroid cancer to ablate residual tissue.
- Thyroid hormone replacement (levothyroxine) lifelong after total thyroidectomy.
- Timing:
- Performed in adults (average age 40–60 years for cancer); urgency depends on diagnosis (e.g., immediate for compressive symptoms).
The procedure aims to remove diseased thyroid tissue, prevent cancer spread, and manage symptoms, while preserving voice and parathyroid function, often using minimally invasive techniques for smaller cases.
Why Do Thyroidectomy Costs Vary in India?
Costs range from ₹50,000 to ₹2 lakh :
- Procedure Type: Hemithyroidectomy (₹50,000–₹80,000); total/open (₹80,000–₹1.5 lakh); robotic (₹1.5–2 lakh).
- Hospital/Location: Higher in metro cities (Apollo, Fortis: ₹80,000–₹2 lakh); lower in government hospitals (AIIMS: ₹20,000–₹50,000, often subsidized under Ayushman Bharat).
- Surgeon’s Expertise: Experienced endocrine surgeons charge more.
- Additional Costs: Anesthesia (₹5,000–₹15,000), hospital stay (₹5,000–₹10,000/day), pathology (₹5,000–₹10,000), medications (₹2,000–₹5,000).
- Insurance: Often covered (medical necessity); confirm with your provider.
Thyroidectomy Procedure
- Before Surgery Evaluation:
- Assessment:
- Ultrasound: Assesses nodule size, features (e.g., microcalcifications), and lymph nodes.
- Fine needle aspiration (FNA): Biopsy to confirm cancer or suspicious nodules.
- Blood tests: TSH, free T4, calcium (parathyroid function); blood sugar, clotting profile.
- Laryngoscopy: Checks vocal cord function pre-op (recurrent laryngeal nerve risk).
- Preparation: Stop blood thinners (e.g., aspirin) 5–7 days prior if safe; optimize thyroid function.
- Consent: Risks, including voice changes, are explained.
- Assessment:
- Surgical Techniques:
- Thyroidectomy:
- Performed under general anesthesia, lasting 1–3 hours.
- Types:
- Total thyroidectomy: Removes entire thyroid; for cancer, large goiters, or Graves’ disease.
- Hemithyroidectomy (lobectomy): Removes one lobe; for unilateral nodules or low-risk cancer.
- Subtotal thyroidectomy: Removes most of thyroid, leaving small tissue; rarely used today.
- Approaches:
- Open thyroidectomy: Standard incision (3–5 cm) in lower neck (collar incision, hidden in skin crease).
- Endoscopic thyroidectomy: Small incisions (1–2 cm) via neck or axilla; for small tumors, better cosmesis.
- Robotic thyroidectomy: Transaxillary or transoral; minimal scarring, used in select centers.
- Process:
- Thyroid exposed; recurrent laryngeal nerve and parathyroid glands identified and preserved.
- Thyroid lobe(s) removed; lymph nodes dissected if cancer spread (central compartment, levels VI–VII).
- Parathyroid glands reimplanted (if removed) into neck muscle to preserve calcium regulation.
- Closure: Sutures in layers; skin closed with fine sutures or glue; drain (if needed).
- Intraoperative Tools:
- Nerve monitor: Protects recurrent laryngeal nerve (avoids voice changes).
- Harmonic scalpel: Controls bleeding.
- Frozen section: Confirms cancer or margins intra-op.
- Thyroidectomy:
- After Surgery:
- Hospital stay: 1–2 days.
- Care: Monitor calcium levels (parathyroid injury risk); voice rest for 1–2 days; drain removed in 1–2 days.
- Pain management: Mild pain for 2–5 days; managed with painkillers (e.g., paracetamol).
- Instructions: Avoid strenuous activity for 2–4 weeks; start levothyroxine (if total thyroidectomy).
Recovery After Thyroidectomy
- Hospital Stay: 1–2 days.
- Post-Surgery Care:
- Pain/Swelling: Mild pain for 2–5 days; swelling resolves in 1–2 weeks.
- Activity: Avoid strenuous activity for 2–4 weeks; light activities in 3–5 days.
- Incision: Sutures removed in 5–7 days (if non-absorbable); scar fades in 3–6 months (hidden in neck crease).
- Thyroid function: Levothyroxine started immediately (total thyroidectomy); dose adjusted via TSH tests.
- Calcium: Monitor for hypocalcemia (tingling, cramps); calcium supplements if needed (temporary in 5–10%).
- RAI (if cancer): Given 4–6 weeks post-op for high-risk cases.
- Follow-Up:
- Visits at 1 week (check healing), 1 month (TSH, calcium check), and every 3–6 months for 2 years (cancer recurrence risk).
- Ultrasound: At 6–12 months to monitor for recurrence.
Most resume normal activities in 1–2 weeks; full recovery takes 4–6 weeks. Success rate: 5-year survival for papillary/follicular thyroid cancer is 95–98%; recurrence rate is 5–10% with proper follow-up.
Risks and Complications
- Surgical Risks:
- Bleeding (1–2%): Hematoma in neck; may need drainage, can compress airway (rare).
- Infection (1–2%): At incision site; treated with antibiotics.
- Anesthesia risks (<1%): Reaction to anesthesia; rare in healthy patients.
- Post-Surgery:
- Hypocalcemia (5–10%): From parathyroid injury; temporary (resolves in weeks) or permanent (1–2%); managed with calcium/vitamin D.
- Voice changes (2–5%): Recurrent laryngeal nerve injury; hoarseness (temporary in most; permanent in <1%).
- Seroma (1–3%): Fluid collection; may need aspiration.
- Scar hypertrophy (2–5%): More common in Indians (keloid-prone); may need steroid injections.
- Long-Term:
- Recurrence (5–10%): Cancer return in neck or nodes; needs regular ultrasound and thyroglobulin tests.
- Hypothyroidism (100%, total thyroidectomy): Managed with levothyroxine lifelong.
Report difficulty breathing, severe swelling, hoarseness, or tingling/cramps promptly.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What causes the need for thyroidectomy?
Thyroid cancer, suspicious nodules, goiter (compression), or hyperthyroidism (e.g., Graves’ disease).
Can I avoid thyroidectomy?
Yes, if low-risk: Active surveillance for small nodules or medical management for hyperthyroidism; surgery needed for cancer or compressive symptoms.
Is thyroidectomy painful?
Mild pain for 2–5 days, managed with medication; resolves in 1–2 weeks.
How soon can I resume normal activities?
Light activities: 3–5 days; full recovery: 4–6 weeks; avoid strenuous activity for 2–4 weeks.
Is thyroidectomy covered by insurance in India?
Often covered (medical necessity); confirm with your provider; Ayushman Bharat often subsidizes.
Signs of complications?
Difficulty breathing, severe swelling, hoarseness, or tingling/cramps.
Will I need thyroid medication after surgery?
Yes: Lifelong levothyroxine after total thyroidectomy; possibly temporary after hemithyroidectomy (30–50%).
Lifestyle changes post-surgery?
Take levothyroxine, monitor calcium, avoid neck strain, and attend follow-ups.
Conclusion
Thyroidectomy is a safe and effective procedure for treating thyroid cancer and other conditions, with high success rates and manageable recovery. India’s top hospitals (Apollo, Fortis, AIIMS) provide affordable care, often covered by insurance. Understanding the procedure, costs, recovery, risks, and FAQs helps patients approach surgery confidently. Consult an endocrine surgeon for personalized guidance.
Looking for Best Hospitals for Thyroidectomy
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we are not promoting any hospitals we sourced all the details from google and hospitals website, please verify and start with your surgery here we go the list includes government, budget and superspeciality hospitals accreditation bodies are the National Accreditation Board for Hospitals and Healthcare Providers (NABH) and the Joint Commission International (JCI)
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| City | Minimum Price (₹) | Maximum Price (₹) |
|---|---|---|
Agra |
40,000 |
1,50,000 |
Ahmedabad |
60,000 |
2,50,000 |
Ajmer |
40,000 |
1,50,000 |
Aligarh |
40,000 |
1,50,000 |
Allahabad |
40,000 |
1,50,000 |
Amritsar |
50,000 |
2,00,000 |
Aurangabad |
50,000 |
2,00,000 |
Bangalore |
60,000 |
2,50,000 |
Bareilly |
40,000 |
1,50,000 |
Belgaum |
50,000 |
2,00,000 |
Bhopal |
50,000 |
2,00,000 |
Bhubaneswar |
50,000 |
2,00,000 |
Bikaner |
40,000 |
1,50,000 |
Chandigarh |
60,000 |
2,50,000 |
Chennai |
60,000 |
2,50,000 |
Coimbatore |
60,000 |
2,50,000 |
Dehradun |
50,000 |
2,00,000 |
Delhi |
60,000 |
2,50,000 |
Dhanbad |
40,000 |
1,50,000 |
Durgapur |
40,000 |
1,50,000 |
Faridabad |
60,000 |
2,50,000 |
Ghaziabad |
60,000 |
2,50,000 |
Gorakhpur |
40,000 |
1,50,000 |
Guntur |
50,000 |
2,00,000 |
Gurgaon |
60,000 |
2,50,000 |
Guwahati |
50,000 |
2,00,000 |
Gwalior |
40,000 |
1,50,000 |
Hyderabad |
60,000 |
2,50,000 |
Indore |
50,000 |
2,00,000 |
Jabalpur |
40,000 |
1,50,000 |
Jaipur |
60,000 |
2,50,000 |
Jalandhar |
50,000 |
2,00,000 |
Jamshedpur |
50,000 |
2,00,000 |
Jodhpur |
40,000 |
1,50,000 |
kanpur |
40,000 |
1,50,000 |
Kochi |
60,000 |
2,50,000 |
Kolkata |
60,000 |
2,50,000 |
Kollam |
50,000 |
2,00,000 |
Lucknow |
50,000 |
2,00,000 |
Ludhiana |
60,000 |
2,50,000 |
Madurai |
50,000 |
2,00,000 |
Mangalore |
50,000 |
2,00,000 |
Meerut |
40,000 |
1,50,000 |
Moradabad |
40,000 |
1,50,000 |
Mumbai |
60,000 |
2,50,000 |
Mysore |
60,000 |
2,50,000 |
Nagpur |
50,000 |
2,00,000 |
Nashik |
50,000 |
2,00,000 |
Navi Mumbai |
60,000 |
2,50,000 |
Noida |
60,000 |
2,50,000 |
Patna |
40,000 |
1,50,000 |
Pune |
60,000 |
2,50,000 |
Raipur |
50,000 |
2,00,000 |
Rajkot |
50,000 |
2,00,000 |
Ranchi |
40,000 |
1,50,000 |
Surat |
60,000 |
2,50,000 |
Thane |
60,000 |
2,50,000 |
Vadodara |
50,000 |
2,00,000 |
Varanasi |
40,000 |
1,50,000 |
Visakhapatnam |
50,000 |
2,00,000 |
Disclaimer
This information is sourced from open platforms and is for general awareness only. Costs may vary based on individual cases. Please consult a qualified doctor for medical advice and explore options within your budget before deciding on the procedure.