What is Endocrine Surgery?
If you have been diagnosed with an endocrine disorder, it is likely impacting your health and daily living. Rather than fighting the disease and taking endless medications, you may be eligible for endocrine surgery. Surgery can cure or vastly improve many endocrine conditions. Let’s dive into an explanation of endocrine surgery, what it treats, and what the process looks like.
What is Endocrine Surgery?
Endocrine surgery is performed to treat disorders that affect the glands of your endocrine system. The endocrine system utilizes these glands to create and release hormones throughout the body that help with critical factors such as metabolism, growth, development, emotions, fertility, sleep, and even blood pressure. When a gland stops functioning correctly, it typically means that the gland produces too little or too much of a specific hormone.
The endocrine procedure removes part or all of a specific gland. For example, a thyroidectomy would be the removal of one lobe or the entire thyroid gland. The most common conditions treated with endocrine surgery include:
- Adrenal tumors
- Adrenocortical carcinoma
- Cushing’s syndrome
- Primary aldosteronism
- Pheochromocytoma
- Hyperparathyroidism
- Parathyroid adenomas
- Parathyroid cancer
- Hyperthyroidism
- Goiter
- Graves’ disease
- Thyroid nodules
- Thyroid cancer
- PTEN hamartoma tumor syndrome
- Neuroendocrine tumors
How Does Endocrine Surgery Work?
To confirm that a patient needs endocrine surgery, a variety of tests will be performed to assess the gland’s function. Such tests can include but are not limited to, blood samples, imaging scans, a bronchoscopy, a laryngoscopy, a biopsy, and an upper endoscopy. After the condition is confirmed, your doctor will connect you with an endocrine surgeon to perform the procedure.
The procedure itself is like most medical procedures. There will be an initial consultation, an explanation of options, and instructions provided on how to prepare for the surgery. Typically, the surgery is performed in a hospital or surgery center as a laparoscopic, robotic, or open surgery, depending on the gland.
After the surgery is completed, there will be a period of downtime, rehabilitation, and medication, depending on the severity of the original problem and the outcome of the surgery. Overall, most patients are able to quickly return to their old lives with minor adjustments and few medications. Of course, it is always important to remember that any surgery comes with risks, which is why we suggest taking the time to complete an in-depth consultation with your surgery provider to understand your condition and treatment fully.
Cernero Surgery & Aesthetics
If you are located in North Texas, Oklahoma, or the Texoma area, Cernero Surgery & Aesthetics is your local endocrine surgery center. Dr. Cernero specializes in general surgery procedures, including treatments for gastroparesis; gallbladder removal; thyroid surgery; breast biopsy, mastectomy, lumpectomy, and Mammosite; and advanced laparoscopy. Contact Cernero Surgery & Aesthetics today to schedule a consultation for your endocrine disorder and learn how this endocrine procedure can help you.
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