Thyroid is a shield-shaped gland in the anterior portion of the neck. Thyroid gland enlargement is a common disorder seen in females of middle age. There can be hypo or hyper function of the thyroid gland with increase in size of the gland.
A chronic increase in the size of the thyroid gland can lead to formation of multinodular goitre. Long-standing and significant enlargement of the gland is treated with surgical excision.
Unilateral swelling of the gland can be treated with Hemithyroidectomy whereas bilateral thyroid gland enlargement necessitates total thyroidectomy.
Sometimes cancer can develop in a long-standing multinodular goitre.
Treatment of cancer of the thyroid is by hemi or total thyroidectomy and neck dissection. In surgery of the thyroid, the recurrent laryngeal nerves, which supply the vocal chords need to be protected. The parathyroid glands which lie close to the thyroid, also need to be preserved.
Radio iodine therapy is a special type of radiation therapy, which is useful in differentiated thyroid cancer after total thyroidectomy.