Endocrine Surgery

What is endocrine surgery?

Endocrine surgery involves advanced treatment for endocrine disorders. Your endocrine system, an intricate network of glands and organs, produces and controls hormones. Problems with your endocrine system can cause hormonal imbalances that lead to a cascade of issues. 

Hormones are chemical messengers that regulate most of your body’s functions, including your metabolism, energy levels, growth and development, and mood. Endocrine surgery focuses on treating disorders that affect certain organs in your endocrine system, including:

• The adrenal glands located on top of your kidneys
• The thyroid and parathyroid glands located at the front of your neck
• The pancreas, which is located behind your stomach and also plays a role in digestion 

Ramon Vazquez Jr. specializes in minimally invasive laparoscopic and robotic surgery, which requires smaller incisions than traditional, open procedures. However, open surgery may be the safest and most effective technique in certain situations. 

What conditions may require endocrine surgery?

Dr. Vazquez treats a wide range of endocrine cancers and disorders that affect the endocrine system, including:

• Thyroid cancer
• Primary hyperparathyroidism
• Adrenal cancer
• Noncancerous adrenal tumors

He also treats neuroendocrine tumors of the pancreas, including gastrinomas, glucagonomas, and insulinomas. These tumors may be benign (noncancerous) or malignant (cancerous).

How do I know if I should see an endocrine surgeon?

Signs and symptoms of endocrine disorders vary depending on the condition. Some problems, such as thyroid cancer, may not cause symptoms at all in the early stages. That’s why it’s so important to get routine physical exams that include blood tests to check your hormone levels. 

When endocrine disorders do cause symptoms, they may include:

• Unexplained pain in the joints, back, or abdomen
• Muscle weakness
• Fatigue
• Depression
• Nausea and vomiting
• Loss of appetite
• Difficulty concentrating
• Diarrhea
• Unexplained weight loss

If you experience any of these signs and symptoms for more than a few days, schedule an appointment with your doctor. They may refer you to Ramon Vazquez Jr. if a physical exam and tests lead them to suspect you have an endocrine disorder.  

Call the office of Ramon Vazquez, MD, PA, or book an appointment online today for state-of-the-art treatment in endocrine surgery.