Treatment Areas
Thyroid Diagnosis and Treatment in Istanbul
If you have been told you have a nodule, or received a thyroid cancer diagnosis, what you need is simple: honest information and a calm plan.
What is thyroid cancer?
The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland in the middle of the neck, just below the Adam's apple. Its hormones regulate heart rate, blood pressure, body temperature and weight. Thyroid cancer begins in the cells of this gland.
In most cases the cause is not clear. It is more common in women; high radiation exposure and certain inherited syndromes raise the risk. One reassuring fact: most thyroid cancers respond very well to treatment, and in the majority of cases the disease does not affect life expectancy.
Symptoms and diagnosis
Early thyroid cancer usually causes no symptoms at all. As it grows, it may produce a lump you can feel in the neck, a change in voice, difficulty swallowing or enlarged lymph nodes. None of these means cancer by itself, but each deserves an examination.
Diagnosis centres on thyroid ultrasound. It is painless, involves no radiation and usually takes under half an hour. The nodule's size, shape and internal structure guide the risk assessment, and suspicious nodules are sampled with a fine-needle biopsy under ultrasound guidance. Most patients compare it to a blood draw.
How Prof. Dr. Meriç Hafız approaches thyroid surgery
Thyroid disease has been at the centre of her clinical work since her research years at Cleveland Clinic. Her own practice listing carries the words thyroid, parathyroid and salivary gland diseases.
Two principles never change: avoid unnecessary surgery, and plan necessary surgery completely. When an operation is decided, protecting the vocal-cord nerves and the parathyroid glands comes first. Your follow-up plan is in your hands before you go home.
Prof. Dr. Ayşenur Meriç Hafız
Treatment options
Treatment depends on the type and stage of the cancer, your general health and your preferences. For most patients surgery is the first step: sometimes the whole gland is removed (thyroidectomy), and in some very small cancers only one lobe. Where needed, the neck lymph nodes are assessed in the same operation.
If the whole gland is removed, thyroid hormone is replaced with daily medication, checked with blood tests every few months at first and then yearly. Some patients also receive radioactive iodine after surgery to clear any remaining tissue. Which of these steps applies to you is explained at the visit, in plain language.
Frequently asked questions
The great majority of nodules are benign. Risk is judged from the ultrasound appearance and, if needed, the biopsy result. You will be told plainly which category yours falls into.
Yes. It uses no radiation, is painless and takes little time. It is safe even in pregnancy.
Like any operation it carries bleeding and infection risks. Risks specific to the thyroid are low calcium, if the parathyroid glands are affected, and voice change, if the vocal-cord nerves are injured. Protecting these structures is the operation's priority, and your personal risk is discussed beforehand.
If the whole gland was removed, yes: thyroid hormone is replaced with medication. After partial surgery it may not be needed. Your follow-up plan is settled before discharge.
Medically reviewed by Prof. Dr. Ayşenur Meriç Hafız, Professor of ENT and Head & Neck Surgery — August 2026 · About
Outcomes of surgical and medical procedures vary from person to person; please consult your physician for an assessment specific to you.
We are here for your questions
The practice is at Selenium Plaza in Beşiktaş. Message us on WhatsApp or call to arrange a visit. English-speaking patients are welcome.