Which procedure is performed to remove the entire thyroid gland?

The procedure performed to remove the entire thyroid gland is known as thyroidectomy. This surgical intervention is specifically designed to excise the full organ and may be indicated in cases such as thyroid cancer, large goiters, or hyperthyroidism that does not respond to other treatments.

Thyroidectomy is distinct from other procedures related to the thyroid, such as subtotal thyroidectomy or hemithyroidectomy, which involve the removal of part of the gland rather than the whole. Subtotal thyroidectomy entails removing a significant portion of the thyroid but leaving some tissue behind for hormonal function, while hemithyroidectomy refers to the removal of only one lobe of the gland. Partial thyroidectomy would similarly imply that only part of the thyroid is being resected. Therefore, the correct terminology for complete removal of the thyroid gland is thyroidectomy.