HEAD & NECK SURGERY
Thyroid and Parathyroid Disease
Silent Precision
Bloodless. Better visibility. Lower risk.
This educational video demonstrates our surgical philosophy during a focused parathyroidectomy for primary hyperparathyroidism. It shows meticulous deep neck dissection, careful tissue handling, excellent haemostasis, and preservation of critical anatomical structures.
Specialist Thyroid & Parathyroid Care
ANDSURGEONS provides international consultant-led thyroid and parathyroid care for patients from Spain, Andorra, the United Kingdom, the Isle of Man and other countries, working through selected partner hospitals and specialist clinical teams.
Our service includes assessment and treatment for thyroid nodules, goitre, thyroid cancer, primary hyperparathyroidism, parathyroid adenomas, and complex revision thyroid and parathyroid surgery.
Consultant Expertise
Our thyroid and parathyroid service is led by Dr Volkert B. Wreesmann, MD PhD, a UK- and US-trained Consultant ENT and Head & Neck Surgeon with more than 10 years’ experience in thyroid and parathyroid surgery.
Dr Wreesmann completed advanced fellowship training at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York, one of the world’s leading centres for thyroid and parathyroid surgery and head & neck oncology.
He has performed more than 1000 thyroid and parathyroid operations, including surgery for primary hyperparathyroidism, thyroid cancer, recurrent disease, revision surgery, and patients referred following unsuccessful surgery elsewhere.
Our Approach
Successful thyroid and parathyroid surgery requires careful planning, precise anatomical knowledge, and meticulous surgical technique.
Our operative principles include:
- meticulous haemostasis
- gentle tissue handling
- excellent surgical visibility
- precise dissection
- preservation of critical anatomical structures
- consultant-led care throughout
Every patient is assessed individually, and treatment is tailored to the diagnosis, imaging findings, symptoms, risk profile and personal circumstances.
Conditions We Treat
We assess and treat patients with:
- Thyroid nodules
- Thyroid cysts
- Goitre
- Thyroid cancer
- Recurrent thyroid cancer
- Primary hyperparathyroidism
- Parathyroid adenomas
- Multigland parathyroid disease
- Revision thyroid surgery
- Revision parathyroid surgery
- Complex thyroid and parathyroid conditions
What to Expect During Your Consultation
Your consultation is designed to establish an accurate diagnosis and determine the most appropriate treatment pathway.
Assessment may include one or more of the following:
Clinical Examination
We examine the neck carefully, assessing the thyroid gland, lymph nodes and surrounding structures. The parathyroid glands are normally too small to be felt during physical examination.
Flexible Endoscopy
Some thyroid conditions require assessment of vocal cord movement before surgery. This is performed using a thin flexible endoscope passed gently through the nose while you remain awake.
Blood Tests
Blood tests may include thyroid hormone levels, parathyroid hormone levels, calcium, vitamin D and other investigations where appropriate.
Thyroid Ultrasound
High-resolution ultrasound provides detailed assessment of the thyroid gland and surrounding lymph nodes.
Fine Needle Aspiration or Needle Biopsy
Where indicated, ultrasound-guided sampling may be performed to obtain cells or tissue from a thyroid nodule for specialist pathological analysis.
Sestamibi Scan
For suspected primary hyperparathyroidism, a sestamibi scan may help localise an overactive parathyroid gland before surgery.
CT Scan
In selected patients, a CT scan may be recommended as part of the diagnostic work-up and surgical planning.
For thyroid disease, CT imaging can help assess the size and extent of large goitres, retrosternal extension into the chest, involvement of surrounding structures, enlarged lymph nodes, or advanced thyroid cancer.
For parathyroid disease, specialised 4D CT imaging may be recommended to help localise an overactive parathyroid gland, particularly when ultrasound or sestamibi imaging is inconclusive, in cases of persistent or recurrent hyperparathyroidism, or before revision surgery.
CT imaging provides detailed anatomical information that can assist with operative planning and facilitate a safe, targeted surgical approach where appropriate.
Multidisciplinary Care
Thyroid and parathyroid disorders often require coordinated input from different specialists. Depending on the condition, we work with endocrinologists, radiologists, nuclear medicine physicians, pathologists, nutritionists, dietitians, physiotherapists and family practitioners.
Our aim is to provide clear diagnosis, careful planning and consultant-led treatment for each patient.