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While the patient is deep asleep and pain-free (general anesthesia), an incision is made in the front of the neck.
Review Date 1/1/2026
Updated by: Ann M. Rogers, MD, FACS, Professor Emeritus, Department of Surgery, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
