Endocrine Surgery Unit

Specialism in surgery of the thyroid, parathyroid, adrenal glands and endocrine pancreas

The Endocrine Surgery Unit at Publio Cordón Memorial Hospital, which forms part of the Department of General and Digestive Surgery, is dedicated to the specialised surgical treatment of diseases of the endocrine glands.

The endocrine glands regulate essential functions such as metabolism, calcium balance and the hormonal response to stress. When nodules, hormonal imbalances or tumours occur, an expert assessment allows us to determine precisely whether surgical treatment is the appropriate option.

When is endocrine surgery indicated?

The unit treats patients with thyroid nodules, hyperparathyroidism, adrenal tumours or pancreatic endocrine lesions whose progression or characteristics require specialist surgical assessment.

In many cases, the initial diagnosis gives rise to uncertainty. The clinical aim is to clarify the situation, confirm the indication and determine the optimal timing for surgery where this is necessary.

Conditions requiring specialist assessment

Disorders of the endocrine system can significantly affect the body’s metabolic and hormonal balance. Some of these conditions require a thorough surgical assessment to confirm their biological behaviour and determine the most appropriate treatment.

The Unit deals with the following clinical conditions, amongst others:

• Multinodular goitre and thyroid nodules requiring surgery

• Thyroid cancer

• Primary and secondary hyperparathyroidism

• Adrenal tumours, such as pheochromocytoma or Cushing’s syndrome

• Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumours, such as insulinomas or gastrinomas

Each condition is assessed taking into account its biological behaviour, functional impact and expected course.

How the best treatment option is determined

The assessment begins with a specialist consultation during which the patient’s medical history, hormone tests and any available imaging studies are reviewed.

Depending on the case, high-resolution cervical ultrasound, CT scans, MRI scans or nuclear medicine studies may be requested. Where indicated, a fine-needle aspiration can confirm the nature of the thyroid nodule.

The decision to proceed with surgery is made after considering all clinical and diagnostic data, in line with up-to-date scientific recommendations and criteria based on the actual benefit to the patient.

Surgery tailored to each condition

The unit performs thyroid, parathyroid, adrenal and pancreatic endocrine surgery using either open or minimally invasive techniques, selected according to the anatomical and clinical characteristics of each individual case.

In thyroid surgery, preserving the nerve structures responsible for the voice is a key consideration. For this reason, intraoperative neurological monitoring is used in selected procedures, enabling the recurrent laryngeal nerve to be identified and protected during the operation.

In the treatment of hyperparathyroidism, radioguided surgery facilitates more precise localisation of the affected gland.

The aim is to provide treatment that is effective, technically safe and commensurate with the complexity of each situation.

A care model based on experience and multidisciplinary coordination

The unit works in coordination with Endocrinology, Interventional Radiology, Nuclear Medicine, Pathology and, where necessary, Otorhinolaryngology. This multidisciplinary model allows each case to be assessed from different clinical perspectives before a final decision is made.

The team has specific expertise in endocrine surgery and deals with both common conditions and complex oncological cases. Care is provided with sufficient clinical time to explain the diagnosis, outline treatment options and guide the decision-making process with rigour and clarity.