Mr Peyman Alam
Oral & maxillofacial surgery

What are the differences between thyroid and parathyroid surgery?

Written in association with: Mr Peyman Alam

Published: 09/01/2023 | Updated: 10/01/2023

Edited by: Conor Dunworth

In his latest article, renowned consultant maxillofacial surgeon Mr Peyman Alam explains the difference between the thyroid and parathyroid glands, and how the surgery to treat them differs.

What is thyroid surgery?

Thyroid surgery is the removal of all or part of the thyroid gland.

What is the main difference between thyroid and parathyroid surgery?

The difference between thyroid and parathyroid needs to be understood to answer this question. These are both endocrine glands situated in the middle of the neck. The thyroid gland looks like a butterfly and is situated in front of the windpipe.

Behind the thyroid gland, there are four small glands called parathyroids. These are usually described as the size of a grain of rice. There is an upper-right, lower-right, upper-left and lower-left parathyroid gland.

The surgical approach is to make an incision at the bottom, front side of the neck in order to get to the thyroid. If it is thyroid surgery, only the thyroid is removed with the preservation of the parathyroid glands behind it.

For parathyroid surgery, the thyroid gland is mobilised and the diseased parathyroid gland is removed.

When are both surgeries required?

The two surgeries have different indications.

Thyroid surgery can be done to treat benign or malignant disease. It is sometimes done to confirm whether the nodule is cancerous or not.

Benign disease is usually a result of multi-nodular goitre (which can cause compressive symptoms), uncontrollable hyperthyroid (excessive thyroid secretion), or conditions like Graves' disease.

Sometimes the procedure is performed in order to confirm a diagnosis, after cytology shows something suspicious.

Finally, the main indication for thyroid surgery apart from benign disease is malignancy.

The main indication for parathyroid surgery is usually benign disease which causes enlargement of the gland, which affects calcium regulation in the blood.

What do both operations treat or cure?

Operations for thyroid surgery depend on the indications of the surgery. For example, surgery can be performed to treat overactive thyroid or compressive symptoms. If the surgery is performed for malignancy, then the surgery is done to remove cancer.

Parathyroid surgery is done to control calcium levels by controlling the parathyroid hormone levels. The removal of a diseased parathyroid can normalise the level of calcium in the blood.

How do recovery times for both compare?

This depends on the treatment. For example, if just half of the thyroid is removed, the recovery time is less than after a complete thyroidectomy. In general, about one to two weeks of recovery time is necessary. It is recommended to avoid heavy lifting or other intense activities for three or four weeks after the surgery.

Mr Peyman Alam is a leading consultant maxillofacial surgeon based in Chichester with over 20 years of experience. If you would like to book a consultation with Mr Alam you can do so today via his Top Doctors Profile.

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By Mr Peyman Alam

Oral & maxillofacial surgery in West Sussex

Mr Peyman Alam is a highly accomplished consultant oral and maxillofacial surgeon at both Nuffield Health and St Richard’s Hospital in Chichester. He has experience in thyroid and parathyroid surgery as well as management of head and neck cancer and reconstruction using microvascular techniques. He also has vast experience in the management of salivary gland disease and skin cancer. After completion of undergraduate and post graduate dental degrees, Mr Alam gained his primary ...

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We will call you back

By Mr Peyman Alam
Oral & maxillofacial surgery

Mr Peyman Alam is a highly accomplished consultant oral and maxillofacial surgeon at both Nuffield Health and St Richard’s Hospital in Chichester. He has experience in thyroid and parathyroid surgery as well as management of head and neck cancer and reconstruction using microvascular techniques. He also has vast experience in the management of salivary gland disease and skin cancer.

After completion of undergraduate and post graduate dental degrees, Mr Alam gained his primary medical qualification from Leeds School of Medicine in 2002 and was fully registered to practice the following year. He continued his studies at Yorkshire School of Surgery, where he undertook basic surgical training in general surgery, orthopaedics and plastic surgery. Mr Alam completed higher surgical training in oral and maxillofacial surgery in 2010 in the North West of England. His keen interest and passion for the management of patients with head and neck cancer encouraged him to apply for the Advanced Head and Neck Surgical Oncology Training Fellowship through national selection by the UK Joint Committee for Higher Surgical Training. He successfully completed his fellowship in the internationally-renowned Queen Victoria Hospital, East Grinstead.

Mr Alam widened his extensive skills by gaining further training in thyroid surgery under supervision of a well-known ENT surgeon, whilst taking an appointment as an honorary fellow in otolaryngology at Maidstone Hospital, Kent. This enabled him to be an oral and maxillofacial who holds full membership with the British Association of Endocrine and Thyroid Surgeons of England.

Mr Alam is currently a consultant oral and maxillofacial surgeon at University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust and is the lead clinician for head and neck oncology as well as thyroid and parathyroid surgery at St Richard's Hospital, Chichester. He also holds an honorary consultant head and neck surgery post at Queen Alexander Hospital, Portsmouth where he performs his major head and neck cancer surgery.

Mr Alam has written and contributed to numerous medical publications and book chapters.

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