Endocrine Surgery

You may never think about your endocrine system, but it plays a vitally important role in keeping your body functioning well. When part of this system malfunctions, treatment is needed to get the body back on track. 

Northeast Georgia Physicians Group (NGPG) General Surgery offers specialized procedures to treat endocrine conditions. These surgical procedures are designed to treat the underlying problem with the endocrine system and get you back to feeling your best. 

What is the endocrine system?

The endocrine system is an elaborate network located throughout the body. The glands, tissues and organs of the endocrine system are responsible for creating and releasing hormones that regulate various functions in the body.  

Problems with the endocrine system can create havoc in the body when hormone production is disrupted. Without these essential hormones—or without enough of them—your body doesn’t receive the signals it needs to tell your organs, skin, muscles and tissues what to do. 

The endocrine system produces more than 50 hormones in total and affects metabolism, growth and development, sexual function, reproduction, the body’s sleep-wake cycle, mood and even the body’s internal balance. That last item is especially significant, controlling blood pressure, blood sugar, fluid levels and electrolytes in the body. 

What conditions affect the endocrine system?

The endocrine system encompasses the pineal gland, pituitary gland, thyroid gland, parathyroid glands, adrenal glands, hypothalamus, pancreas, testicles and ovaries. Any part of the endocrine system can be affected by damage or disease.  

Endocrine conditions include: 

• Adrenal gland disorder 
• Adrenal tumors 
• Cushing syndrome 
• Goiter 
• Graves’ disease 
• Hashimoto’s thyroiditis 
• Hyperparathyroidism 
• Hyperthyroidism 
• Hypopituitarism 
• Insulinoma 
• Multiple endocrine neoplasia 
• Neuroendocrine tumors 
• Parathyroid cancer 
• Parathyroid disease 
• Thyroid cancer 
• Thyroid disease 
• Thyroid nodules 

While this list is lengthy, it isn’t all-inclusive. NGPG surgeons also have expertise in treating other conditions affecting the endocrine system. When needed we collaborate with other providers, including endocrinologists, to offer the highly specialized care our patients need. 

How are endocrine conditions treated?

Conditions affecting the endocrine system can sometimes be treated effectively with lifestyle changes, medications and other nonsurgical therapies. In many cases though, surgery is needed to diagnose or treat an endocrine condition. 

We offer these types of endocrine surgery: 

• Adrenalectomy
  During this procedure a surgeon removes one or both of the adrenal glands, which produce hormones that regulate body functions like metabolism, blood pressure, stress response and the immune system. 
• Insulinoma Enucleation
  This procedure surgically removes an insulinoma, which is a rare type of tumor affecting the pancreas. 
• Lymphadenectomy
  This procedure, also known as lymph node dissection, removes lymph nodes to biopsy them, looking for cancerous cells. 
• Neck Dissection
  During a neck dissection a surgeon removes lymph nodes and surrounding tissue in the neck to treat cancer or prevent it from spreading. 
• Pancreatectomy
  This procedure is the removal of part or all of the pancreas, which produces insulin. 
• Pancreatic Enucleation
  During this procedure a surgeon removes part or all of a noncancerous or low-grade tumor in the pancreas while leaving healthy tissue untouched. 
• Parathyroid Surgery
  This procedure removes one or more of the four parathyroid glands, which are responsible for regulating calcium in the blood. Learn more about thyroid surgeries at NGPG. 
• Thyroidectomy
  During a thyroidectomy part or all of the thyroid gland is surgically removed. 

Choose NGPG for endocrine surgery