Treatment areas · 01
Thyroid Diseases
Nodules, cancer types and surgical treatment of the butterfly-shaped gland at the front of the lower neck.
The thyroid is a small, butterfly-shaped organ at the front of the lower neck, lying in front of the windpipe (trachea). The hormones it produces regulate the body’s energy use, heart rate, body temperature and many other functions. Some of the problems that arise in this gland concern hormone balance, while others concern nodules and tumours that form within the gland; it is chiefly the latter that fall within the scope of head and neck surgery.1
Thyroid nodules are very common, and the great majority are benign. Even so, every nodule should be properly assessed, suspicious ones should be examined by biopsy, and they should be removed surgically when necessary. Thyroid cancer, in turn, covers several types that arise from different cell types and differ in their course and treatment; papillary, follicular and medullary thyroid cancer are the principal ones, and each is covered on its own page in this section.2,3,4
The pages in this section explain in plain language what a thyroid nodule is, when it is monitored and when it requires surgery, and the symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of the types of thyroid cancer. The thyroid surgery page describes how thyroid surgery is performed, what to expect in the postoperative period and what to pay attention to during recovery. This information is written to help you discuss your situation with your doctor during diagnosis and treatment.
References
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National Cancer Institute. Thyroid cancer treatment (PDQ®)–patient version [Internet]. Bethesda (MD): National Cancer Institute; [updated 2025 Feb 12; cited 2026 Oct 5]. Available from: cancer.gov ↩
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American Thyroid Association. Thyroid nodules [Internet]. Alexandria (VA): American Thyroid Association; [cited 2026 Oct 5]. Available from: thyroid.org ↩
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Durante C, Hegedüs L, Czarniecka A, Paschke R, Russ G, Schmitt F, et al. 2023 European Thyroid Association clinical practice guidelines for thyroid nodule management. Eur Thyroid J. 2023;12(5):e230067. doi:10.1530/ETJ-23-0067 ↩
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Cancer Research UK. Types of thyroid cancer [Internet]. London: Cancer Research UK; [reviewed 2023 Oct 20; cited 2026 Oct 5]. Available from: cancerresearchuk.org ↩
Topics in this area · 6 topics
- 01Thyroid Nodules and Their TreatmentWhat a thyroid nodule is, which nodules are monitored and which need a biopsy or surgery; symptoms, diagnosis and treatment options.
- 02Thyroid CancerThe types of thyroid cancer, its symptoms, diagnosis and staging, surgery-based treatment and the follow-up process.
- 03Papillary Thyroid CancerThe features, symptoms, diagnosis, surgical treatment and follow-up of papillary cancer, the most common type of thyroid cancer.
- 04Follicular Thyroid CancerThe features of follicular thyroid cancer, why it is hard to diagnose by biopsy, treatment with surgery and radioactive iodine, and follow-up.
- 05Medullary Thyroid CancerThe familial and sporadic forms of medullary thyroid cancer, which arises from C cells; its symptoms, diagnosis and follow-up with calcitonin, and surgical treatment.
- 06Thyroid Surgery and Postoperative CareHow thyroid surgery is done, how to prepare, what the first days after the operation are like, what the risks are and what to watch for in recovery.
Related articles
- Thyroid ultrasoundWhat a thyroid ultrasound is, how it is done, what it can and cannot show, how nodules are graded, when a needle sample is taken and what happens afterwards.
- Is a neck ultrasound always necessary during a check-up?What a neck ultrasound shows, who needs one, why it is not advised as screening for everyone, what happens if a nodule is found and when to see a doctor.
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