The human body is an amazing network of intricate systems. From hearing to digestion, these systems work in harmony to carry you through life — and your endocrine system plays a crucial role in many essential bodily functions.
Balaguru Sambandam, MD, FACS, and our team at North Tarrant Health Providers specialize in endocrine surgery in Fort Worth, Texas.
Endocrine surgery is a specialized field of surgery that focuses on treating disorders that affect your endocrine glands. It addresses a wide range of conditions, from thyroid nodules to adrenal tumors, all with the goal to restore hormonal balance and overall health.
The endocrine system contains eight major glands that produce and secrete hormones. Together, these glands help regulate bodily functions like metabolism, growth and development, tissue function, sexual function, reproduction, sleep, mood, and more.
Key players in your endocrine system include your thyroid gland, parathyroid glands, adrenal glands, pancreas, pituitary gland, and gonads (testes in males and ovaries in females). And while healthy glands keep hormones balanced, endocrine disorders can disrupt normal gland function and give rise to health-affecting hormonal imbalances in your body.
Some endocrine disorders can be managed with medication or other non-surgical interventions, but endocrine surgery might be necessary in some cases. You might need endocrine surgery if conservative approaches are ineffective, or if you have a high risk of complications, such as hormone overproduction, tumor growth, or cancer.
Endocrine surgery includes a number of specialized procedures that target your endocrine glands. The goal is to treat conditions that arise from hormone imbalances or tumor growth. Here are a few common reasons why someone might need endocrine surgery:
Your thyroid gland, located in the front of your neck, produces hormones that regulate metabolism and other vital functions. Thyroid disorders are common, and certain types — like thyroid nodules, goiter (enlargement of the thyroid gland), and thyroid cancer — might necessitate surgical intervention.
Thyroidectomy is one possible surgery for thyroid disorders. It involves removing part or all of your thyroid gland, and it could be recommended to treat thyroid cancer, large nodules causing compression symptoms, or hyperthyroidism that’s resistant to medication.
Your parathyroid glands are behind your thyroid gland, and they regulate calcium levels in your body. Disorders like primary hyperparathyroidism can lead to elevated calcium levels in your blood and cause symptoms like fatigue, kidney stones, and bone pain.
Parathyroidectomy is the surgical removal of abnormal parathyroid tissue, and it’s considered the definitive treatment for this condition.
Your adrenal glands sit on top of each kidney, and they produce hormones like cortisol, aldosterone, and adrenaline. Adrenal tumors (benign or malignant), Cushing's syndrome (excess cortisol production), and pheochromocytoma (adrenal gland tumor causing excessive adrenaline release) may require surgical intervention.
Depending on your needs, you could be a candidate for adrenalectomy. This procedure involves surgically removing one or both adrenal glands to treat these conditions and restore hormonal balance.
While pancreatic surgery encompasses a broad range of procedures, certain pancreas conditions may involve endocrine components. For instance, insulinomas are pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors that produce excess insulin, leading to hypoglycemia (low blood sugar).
Surgical tumor resection, often performed through techniques like enucleation or partial pancreatic resection, can alleviate symptoms and prevent complications associated with insulin overproduction.
Like any other surgical specialty, endocrine surgery requires a multidisciplinary approach involving endocrinologists, surgeons, radiologists, pathologists, and other healthcare professionals. Preoperative evaluation, including imaging studies, hormonal assays, and risk assessment, helps determine the most appropriate surgical approach and optimize outcomes.
If you’re considering endocrine surgery, it’s important to understand your condition and your treatment options so you can make an informed decision. Learn more with a consultation at North Tarrant Health Providers in Fort Worth, Texas. Call us at 817-904-4165 today, or request an appointment online at your convenience.
