Endocrine Surgery
Endocrine surgery is a specialty of general surgery which is dedicated to the treatment of benign and malignant thyroid surgical diseases, hyperparathyroidism, benign and malignant adrenal tumors as well as functioning tumors of the pancreas.
Dr. Denise Carneiro-Pla is a board certified general surgeon who is formally trained in endocrine surgery performing exclusively this specialty in the Department of Surgery at the Medical University of South Carolina.
Patients with the disease processes described below would benefit from an evaluation performed by a specialized endocrine surgeon:
- thyroid nodules
- thyroid cancers
- benign goiters, intrathoracic goiters
- familial endocrine diseases such as multiple endocrine neoplasia and familial hyperparathyroidism
- hyperparathyroidism which is caused by the increased secretion of PTH which is produced by the parathyroid glands leading to elevated calcium levels, bone pain, osteoporosis, kidney stones and fatigue
- parathyroid cancer
- functioning or nonfunctioning adrenal tumors
- functioning pancreatic tumors
Our endocrine surgery service offers:
- minimally invasive parathyroidectomy with the guidance of real-time intraoperative PTH measurements
- thyroidectomies with the use of small incisions and nerve monitoring to prevent nerve injury and voice change after the procedure
- laparoscopic and open adrenalectomies
- ultrasonography as part of the physical examination and as a guide for procedures that might be needed during the initial visit.
At Hollings Cancer Center patients are seen at the endocrine tumor clinic where a multidisciplinary team is involved in the care of patients with thyroid cancers coordinating their treatment between endocrinology, endocrine surgery and nuclear medicine.