Endocrine Conditions
Thyroid Conditions
Located in the lower neck, your thyroid gland is one of the endocrine glands. The hormones produced in the thyroid regulate metabolism. Thyroid disease is very common and usually involves overactive or underactive glands that produce either too much or too little thyroid hormone.
Conditions that may require thyroid surgery include:
- A nodule or cyst on the thyroid
- An extremely overactive thyroid gland
- Thyroid cancer
- Benign thyroid tumors that are causing symptoms
- Thyroid goiter that impedes breathing or swallowing
Symptoms
- Fatigue
- Emotional problems
- Weight gain
- Weight loss
- Lump in the neck
Diagnosis
- Thyroid ultrasound: Uses painless soundwaves to create an image of the thyroid gland and helps the physician to identify the size, location, and characteristics of nodules within the thyroid gland.
- Fine-needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy: After numbing the area with local anesthesia, the surgeon inserts a fine needle into the lump and withdraws a small sample of tissue for examination under a microscope. This test provides information about the nature of the lump.
Treatment
Surgery is often recommended for patients with thyroid cancer or hyperthyroidism that is not relieved by medication. Estrella Surgical Group specialists are experienced in treating thyroid conditions with the most current and minimally invasive techniques.
- Thyroidectomy: The procedure can involve removing either the entire thyroid gland or just one lobe.
Parathyroid Conditions
The four parathyroid glands are located in the neck, near your thyroid gland. They release the hormone that regulates calcium metabolism. Parathyroid hormone regulates levels of calcium in the bones and urine.
Symptoms
- Depression
- Fatigue
- Muscle cramps
- Confusion, memory loss
- Bone pain or fractures
- Heartburn (GERD)
- Heart palpitations, high blood pressure
- Kidney stones
Diagnosis
- Parathyroid ultrasound: a transducer is passed over the neck to form a picture of the enlarged parathyroid. Normal parathyroid glands are generally too small to see on ultrasound, but abnormal parathyroid glands may be enlarged and easily seen by ultrasound.
- Sestamibi parathyroid scan a safe radioactive agent is injected intravenously, and is absorbed by the overactive parathyroid gland. Only the overactive gland reacts to the agent. A gamma camera is then used to capture images that allow the surgeon to identify which of the parathyroid glands is overactive.
Treatment
Surgery is the only treatment for an abnormal parathyroid gland. Calcium levels cannot be controlled with medication, and calcium imbalance in the body is a serious condition. Too little calcium in the bones will cause osteoporosis. Too much calcium in the blood will increase the risk of stroke.
Surgeons at Estrella Surgical Group are experts in providing care for patients with parathyroid disorders. We offer inpatient and outpatient services and are skilled at both minimally invasive and open surgical techniques.
Standard parathyroid surgery: The diseased parathyroid gland(s) is identified and removed through a 2 to 3 inch incision in the lower part of the neck.
Minimally invasive parathyroid surgery (MIRP): uses a special probe to locate the diseased gland, which is then removed through a single 1-inch incision.