Endocrine Surgery

Endocrine surgery typically refers to the removal of all or part of a thyroid, parathyroid or adrenal gland that is causing abnormal hormone production due to a benign or malignant tumor. A thyroidectomy, thyroid lobectomy or partial thyroidectomy may be required to address thyroid cancer, hyperthyroidism and sometimes goiters that are obstructing swallowing and breathing. Alternatively, one or more of the parathyroid glands may need to be removed when a patient is suffering from hyperparathyroidism (an overproduction of the hormone that controls calcium levels). In an adrenalectomy, one or both adrenal glands (located above the kidneys) are removed for purposes of eliminating a tumor and/or addressing an overactive gland that that is producing too much hormone.