Endocrine Glands

The thyroid, parathyroid and adrenal glands all secrete hormones. The thyroid gland lies at the front of the neck and, through the hormones T3 and T4, helps regulate metabolism and growth. Just behind it are the four parathyroid glands, which secrete parathyroid hormone (PTH), the hormone that controls the level of calcium in the blood. The adrenal glands are small triangular glands located above each kidney, and their hormones, such as cortisol and adrenaline, help regulate metabolism and blood pressure.

Dr. Konstantinidis and his surgical team treat the following conditions surgically:

• Thyroid cancer: relatively rare (less than 1% of all cancers) but the most common endocrine cancer, usually with a good prognosis when diagnosed early.
• Parathyroid gland disorders: the most common is hyperparathyroidism, which affects women about three times more often than men.
• Adrenal disorders: benign and malignant conditions such as pheochromocytoma, hyperaldosteronism and adrenal cancer.

Thyroid cancer and primary hyperparathyroidism often cause no obvious symptoms. In thyroid cancer, the most common sign is a painless lump in the neck, although thyroid nodules are common and benign in 90% of adults. Parathyroid disorders that upset blood calcium levels can lead to brittle bones, kidney stones, fatigue and weakness. Hyperaldosteronism may cause high blood pressure, low blood potassium and muscle weakness, while pheochromocytoma may cause headache, sweating and palpitations.

The operation depends on the gland: thyroidectomy, parathyroidectomy or adrenalectomy. In thyroidectomy, a small 3-4 cm incision is made in the neck, a nerve stimulator helps protect the laryngeal nerves, and the patient is discharged the next day. In robotic thyroidectomy, offered to patients selected with strict criteria, the incision is made under the arm, so no scar is left on the neck.

Parathyroidectomy and adrenalectomy can be performed with open surgery, laparoscopically or robotically; the robotic operations are carried out with the da Vinci Xi system at Athens Medical Center.