×

Our services


General / Laparoscopic Surgery
Hernia Surgery
Endoscopy
Colorectal Surgery
Endocrine
Breast Surgery
Emergency Surgery
×

Online Admissions


Tamara Private Hospital - Tamworth
Armidale Private Hospital - Armidale

Thyroid Surgery

What you need to know with us.

Endocrine surgery refers to operations on one or more of the endocrine glands, otherwise known as thyroid or parathyroid glands. These glands secrete hormones into the bloodstream, and have an important influence over the functions of almost all cells in the body.


What is the Thyroid/Parathyroid 


The thyroid is small butterfly shaped gland located at the front of the neck just below the Adam’s apple. It produces thyroid hormone vital in many aspects of your health; metabolism the rate at which fats protein sugars and starches are used by the body. Body weight and temperature, heart rate, blood pressure, muscles and nerves and the growth rate in children.

Iodine found in many foods is taken up by the thyroid and used to make the thyroid hormone.

Parathyroid Glands; are the size of rice, there are 4 of them located near the thyroid, these control the amount of calcium is in the blood and is used for muscle function, strength and the amount of electrical currents along the nerves. Although the parathyroids and the thyroid are close and the glands are in the “Endocrine System” (which controls chemicals to control bodily functions) their functions are different and not related.


Symptoms


Thyroid surgery is quite delicate surgery. You can have an overactive or underactive thyroid and various disorders arise from this. Overactive thyroid; Restlessness, sleeping difficulty, increased appetite, diarrhoea, intense dislike of hot weather, weightloss.

Underactive thyroid; swollen lips or puffy face tiredness, slowed movements or speech, poor appetite, constipation, dislike of cold weather, weight gain.


Diagnosis


Blood tests can indicate activity of the thyroid, whether you have an underactive thyroid (hypothyroid) or an overactive thyroid (hyperthyroid). An ultra sound or CT scans can determine the size of your thyroid. This is generally related to conditions such as goitre or thyroid nodules. Biopsy of the thyroid tissue is taken if there is suspicion of nodules or a tumour. A biopsy is often performed with a fine needle by a radiologist using ultra sound or by your surgeon.


Want more information?

Please complete the form below & let us know how we can help you today.

Name
E-mail Address
Phone Number
Message