An enlarged thyroid gland

The thyroid gland is a hormone secreting gland situated in the midline of the neck in front of the windpipe. An enlarged thyroid gland produces a swelling in the neck and may cause difficulty in breathing due to compression of the windpipe. The enlargement may be limited to one lobe of the thyroid or may involve the whole gland and could be benign or malignant. The extent of the surgical excision depends upon the size, site and pathology of the lesion. The surgery is done through a neck skin crease incision under general anesthesia.