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Endocrine Gland Information

The endocrine glands produce hormones that have important effects on the function of other organs and the whole body. The specialist surgeons of Brisbane Breast and Endocrine Surgeons are skilled and experienced in the assessment and surgical treatment of thyroid, parathyroid and adrenal surgical conditions.

Thyroid Gland

The thyroid gland is located in the neck and produces thyroid hormones that regulate energy use in the body. It is a single gland with right and left sides joined in the middle by a narrow isthmus.

Disorders of the thyroid are mainly either hormone production problems (too much or too little hormone) or problems of enlargement of the gland. Enlargements may be benign (not cancer) or malignant (cancer). Significant enlargements or glands that extend below the collar bones may cause pressure symptoms such as difficulty with breathing or swallowing.

Enlargement of particular lumps or nodules usually require assessment with scans, biopsy or surgery. Thyroid cancer is fairly uncommon and with proper treatment usually has a good outcome.

Parathyroid Glands

The word parathyroid means "next to the thyroid".

There are four parathyroid glands, each about the size of a small grain of rice. There are two on each side, usually behind or below the thyroid gland.

Although they are located near the thyroid and share the same supplying blood vessels, their function is quite different. Parathyroid hormone regulates calcium in the body, particularly by effects on bones.

Enlarged parathyroid glands produce too much parathyroid hormone, a condition known as hyperparathyroidism. This results in too much calcium being turned over in bones and leads eventually to osteoporosis.

It also results in a high level of calcium in the blood and this finding on a routine blood test is a frequent way of the disease first being detected. The high blood calcium can be associated with a range of symptoms and complications such as kidney stones and heart disease.

This problem may be cured by surgical removal of the enlarged gland or glands.

The Adrenal Gland

The word adrenal means "near the kidney".

There is one gland on each side located just above the kidneys. They produce a complex range of hormones with very important effects throughout the body.

If one gland requires removal, the remaining gland is capable of taking over the essential hormone functions.

The inner part of each gland is known as the medulla. It produces adrenaline and related hormones that regulate blood pressure and heart rate. Tumours of the medulla are called phaeochromocytomas.

The outer part of each gland is known as the cortex. It produces many different hormones, the most important being cortisone and related hormones. They regulate many important metabolic functions of the body.

The cortex also produces mineralocorticoid hormones that regulate fluid balance and blood pressure (by mechanisms different to adrenaline).

Benign tumours of the cortex are called adrenalcortical adenomas and malignant tumours are called adrenalcortical cancers. Cancers are rare.

Endocrine Gland Treatment

Brisbane Breast and Endocrine surgeons regularly perform the following treatments and procedures on the thyroid, parathyroid and adrenal glands. We use minimally invasive and laparoscopic (keyhole) surgical methods where these are appropriate.

Our specialists are able to perform ultrasound assessments of the neck, needle biopsies (if required), and examination of the larynx (voice box) where appropriate in relation to Endocrine operations.

Thyroid Gland

Assessment may include blood tests for thyroid hormone levels, ultrasound scanning of the neck and fine needle biopsy to obtain material for pathology examination.

Surgical procedures include hemithyroidectomy (removal of one half of the gland) when the problem is limited to one side, or total thyroidectomy (removal of the whole gland) when the problem involves both sides.

After removal of half the thyroid most people do not require thyroid hormone replacement, but after total thyroidectomy it is necessary to take thyroid hormone tablets every morning. When cancer is present, lymph glands in the neck may also require removal.

Parathyroid Glands

The diagnosis of hyperparathyroidism is by blood tests for calcium and parathyroid hormone and a urine test for calcium.

The abnormal enlarged parathyroid gland may sometimes be identified on a radioactive scan and ultrasound scan. If this is convincingly shown on scans, a minimally invasive operation targeting a single gland through a small neck incision may be possible.

When the scans fail to show the particular abnormal gland, a successful operation is still possible in nearly all cases by thoroughly exploring all four glands.

Parathyroid gland enlargement is nearly always benign and cancer is rare.

Adrenal Glands

Assessment of adrenal disorders includes blood and urine tests for hormone levels and also scans, particularly CT scanning.

Tumours of the adrenal gland that are overproducing hormones require surgical removal even if they are small.

Tumours that are not overproducing hormones are carefully assessed. If they are small and appear benign on scans they may be observed and followed up. However, if they are large or grow on serial follow up scans they are removed because of the risk of cancer.

Most adrenal tumours (around 90%) may be removed by laparoscopic keyhole surgery, although very large or malignant tumours require open surgery.

Please note that all care has been taken in providing the information on this site. It is intended for background information and should not be used to make any medical care decisions. You should always consult with your medical providers for all specific advice on your medical treatment.