Picking a Thyroid Surgeon

Selection of a thyroid surgeon is more important than any other factor once a decision to proceed surgically is made. This article focuses on practical recommendations you should consider in selecting the best surgeon for your care.

The selection of a thyroid surgeon is critical for a good surgical outcome. In a perfect world, every thyroid operation would be done by a surgeon that does nothing but thyroid surgery. However, this is not an option due to time, travel, insurance and cost constraints for almost all patients. Fortunately we have access to outstanding thyroid surgeons in our community. It is possible to see a surgeon that has the training and experience to handle almost any thyroid operation right here at home in southern Nevada.

Experience is the single most important consideration in selecting a thyroid surgeon. They must have experience in treating the full spectrum of thyroid disorders: thyroid nodules, thyroid cancer, goiter, Hashimoto’s disease, Grave’s disease and recurrent thyroid cancer. A surgeon that does occasional thyroid operations is probably not the best selection if you are having surgery for a suspicious thyroid nodule or a large goiter. This is even more critical if you are having surgery for Graves disease due to the increased risk of bleeding and thyroid storm which may occur in this condition.

Your surgeon need to know his or her personal limits and have the training to do a thorough dissection of the lymph node compartments of the neck is essential. They should not be afraid to tell you when your case should be referred to a tertiary center. A community surgeon that never needs to refer out cases may not be able to recognize when they are in over their head.

Finally, your surgeon must have a close working relationship with your endocrinologist so surgical and medical care can be appropriately coordinated. Ask the endocrinologist to review the surgeons that are providers for your insurance to assist in the selection of the best surgeon for your individual needs.

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