Thyroid Goiter Surgery

A thyroid goiter is the significant enlargement of the thyroid gland, which leads to difficulty breathing and/or swallowing or voice changes.  This type of enlargement is usually not associated with cancer or hormone overproduction. Often goiter results when an insufficient amount of hormones are being produced. In response, the thyroid gland enlarges to meet the demand. This initial decreased hormone production may be caused by a deficiency in iodine or by eating certain foods.  Thyroid goiter surgery can be rather difficult at times due to the vascularity of the gland, the way the recurrent laryngeal nerves are displaced, the way the trachea is displaced as well as possible substernal involvement of the chest.  Usually a normal size incision (3 – 5 inches) is performed for excision of these large goiters so as to minimize the risk of injury to nerves, parathyroid glands, and vessels as well as to remove the gland in its entirety.  This surgery, as such, is very delicate and should only be performed by expert surgeons when necessary.  Dr. Alen Cohen and Dr. Jerome Vener have an extensive amount of experience in operating on thyroid goiters in Los Angeles.