What is subtotal thyroidectomy
Mia Smith
Published Mar 29, 2026
Background: Subtotal thyroidectomy is a surgical procedure, in which the surgeon leaves a small thyroid remnant in situ to preserve thyroid function, thereby preventing lifelong thyroid hormone supplementation therapy. Aim: To evaluate thyroid function after subtotal thyroidectomy for Graves’ hyperthyroidism.
What is the difference between a total and subtotal thyroidectomy?
[4] Two different surgical techniques are used for the treatment of Graves’ hyperthyroidism: a total thyroidectomy (TT) in which the entire gland is removed and a subtotal thyroidectomy (STT) , in which most of the gland is removed leaving a small unilateral or bilateral remnant in situ about 4-5 grams.
What is the difference between partial and total thyroidectomy?
Thyroidectomy: surgery to remove the entire thyroid gland. When the entire thyroid is removed it is termed a total thyroidectomy. When less is removed, such as in removal of a lobe, it is termed a partial thyroidectomy.
What are the types of thyroidectomy?
- Conventional thyroidectomy. This approach involves making an incision in the center of your neck to directly access your thyroid gland. …
- Transoral thyroidectomy. This approach avoids a neck incision by using an incision inside the mouth.
- Endoscopic thyroidectomy.
Why would you have a partial thyroidectomy?
You may need a partial thyroidectomy if you have thyroid cancer or a lump on your thyroid. Even a lump that is not cancer can grow large and cause breathing problems. You may also need surgery for hyperthyroidism. This means your thyroid creates too much thyroid hormone.
Can you live a normal life after thyroidectomy?
Despite its importance, you can live a healthy, normal life without it or with only part of it. But you will need treatment to prevent hypothyroidism—or too little thyroid hormone—which can be serious. To prevent hypothyroidism, you will need to start thyroid hormone replacement.
What is the subtotal?
A subtotal is a figure that is the result of adding some numbers together but is not the final total.
Can thyroid nodules be removed without removing the thyroid?
Benign nodules are usually not removed unless they grow over time or cause symptoms such as difficulty swallowing or choking. Laser ablation therapy for benign thyroid nodules is a relatively new, non-surgical procedure.Can you live without thyroid hormone?
People can live for a very long time without thyroid hormones, but they will develop symptoms that decrease their quality of life. A lack of thyroid hormones can also increase your risk for other health conditions that can shorten your life expectancy, including heart disease and obesity.
Can you live without your thyroid and no medication?Aside from having your thyroid levels tested regularly and taking medication daily to give your body the thyroid hormone it needs, people without a thyroid live an otherwise normal life. Adjusting to life without your thyroid means taking medication and checking in with your doctor.
Article first time published onHow long is recovery from partial thyroidectomy?
Most people are ready to return home within one day of surgery, but take off about two weeks from work to recover. You’ll need to refrain from heavy lifting or other tasks that can strain your neck for up to three weeks after your surgery.
Should I have a partial or total thyroidectomy?
Total Thyroidectomy Total thyroidectomies are more common than their partial counterparts. That’s because total thyroidectomies provide a greater guarantee of removing the entire papillary thyroid cancer. Total thyroidectomy procedures can take a long time to perform—3 to 4 hours, in most cases.
Can a thyroid grow back?
Although having the capacity to grow in response to a stimulus that perturbs the pituitary-thyroid axis, the thyroid gland is considered not a regenerative organ.
Will I gain weight after a partial thyroidectomy?
Patients with hyperthyroidism commonly experience weight gain after thyroidectomy. This occurs due to the reduction in circulating thyroid hormone, thus ameliorating the weight-lowering effects of elevated thyroid hormones (4,5).
Can a goiter grow back after partial thyroidectomy?
A recurrent goiter is the regrowth of thyroid tissues after thyroidectomy. This may occur after surgery for benign disease or malignancy of thyroid. While recurrence after surgery for benign disease should be preventable, recurrence after malignant disease depends on many factors.
Can you have hyperthyroidism after partial thyroidectomy?
However, cases in which patients are diagnosed with recurrence of Graves’ disease shortly after partial thyroidectomy for thyroid cancer are very rare. Here we report a case of hyperthyroid Graves’ disease that occurred after partial thyroidectomy for papillary thyroid cancer.
What is subtotal example?
The SUBTOTAL function is designed for columns of data, or vertical ranges. It is not designed for rows of data, or horizontal ranges. For example, when you subtotal a horizontal range using a function_num of 101 or greater, such as SUBTOTAL(109,B2:G2), hiding a column does not affect the subtotal.
How do you use the subtotal function?
- To sort the column that contains the data you want to group by, select that column, and then on the Data tab, in the Sort & Filter group, click Sort A to Z or Sort Z to A.
- On the Data tab, in the Outline group, click Subtotal. …
- In the At each change in box, click the column to subtotal.
What is subtotal and total?
Anything before the absolute end sum, such as before the taxes are calculated, or the discounts are calculated, is the subtotal. The amount actually paid is the total, not the subtotal.
What are the side effects of having no thyroid?
- Tingling in the fingers that can progress to tremors.
- Spasms in all muscles of the body, including the heart and muscles surrounding the lungs.
- Low calcium levels (hypocalcemia)
Does thyroid removal shorten life expectancy?
We have also shown that treatment per se (thyroidectomy, high-dose radioactive iodine and thyroid hormone medication) is safe and does not shorten life expectancy. Nonetheless, it remains important to realise that patients with persistent disease have a median standardised survival time of only 60%, independent of age.
Can a thyroid grow back once removed?
TT has a negligible rate of recurrence. Near Total Thyroidectomy (NTT) is associated with a low rate of recurrence. Subtotal Thyroidectomy (ST), in which a portion of the thyroid gland is deliberately left in the thyroid lodge, has a considerably higher rate of recurrence.
What foods to avoid if you have no thyroid?
- Soy foods: tofu, tempeh, edamame, etc.
- Certain vegetables: cabbage, broccoli, kale, cauliflower, spinach, etc.
- Fruits and starchy plants: sweet potatoes, cassava, peaches, strawberries, etc.
- Nuts and seeds: millet, pine nuts, peanuts, etc.
What is life like after thyroid removal?
You will need to take at least one or two weeks to recover before you return to work and other daily activities. You should not lift any heavy objects for about 2 weeks after your operation to avoid any strain on your neck. Your neck is likely to be swollen and may feel hard and numb right after the surgery.
Is coffee good for thyroid?
Coffee: Time Your First Cup Carefully in the Morning Per a study in the journal Thyroid, caffeine has been found to block absorption of thyroid hormone replacement. “People who were taking their thyroid medication with their morning coffee had uncontrollable thyroid levels, and we couldn’t figure it out,” says Dr. Lee.
At what size should a thyroid nodule be removed?
Previous studies had shown that between 11- 20% of cancerous nodules ≥ 4 cm may be misclassified as benign (false negative) and this has led to recommendations that all nodules > 4 cm should be removed.
What type of doctor removes thyroid nodules?
If you require thyroid removal (thyroidectomy), you’ll want a highly qualified surgeon to perform the procedure. Otolaryngologists—or ear, nose and throat (ENT) doctors—and general surgeons perform thyroid removal.
What is the best treatment for my thyroid nodules?
Surgery. A common treatment for cancerous nodules is surgical removal. In the past, it was standard to remove a majority of thyroid tissue — a procedure called near-total thyroidectomy. However, today more limited surgery to remove only half of the thyroid may be appropriate for some cancerous nodules.
Why levothyroxine is bad for you?
They run the risk of experiencing side effects from taking levothyroxine, which include irregular heart rhythms, insomnia, and loss of bone density, without reaping any benefit from it. The best way to check for hypothyroidism is to look at the level of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) in the blood.
What are the long term side effects of levothyroxine?
- Irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia)
- High blood pressure.
- Heart failure.
- Chest pain (angina)
- Heart attack (myocardial infarction)
- Cardiac arrest (heart stops working)
Do you have hypothyroidism look at your hands?
Signs and symptoms of hypothyroidism can show up in the hands and nails. Hypothyroidism can cause dermatologic findings such as nail infection, vertical white ridges on the nails, nail splitting, brittle nails, slow nail growth, and nails lifting up.