Overview
What is endocrine surgery?
Endocrine surgery is a distinct field that combines endocrinology, oncology, and surgery. Cleveland Clinic is recognized in the U.S. and throughout the world for its expertise and care.
The Department of Endocrine Surgery oversees the delivery of thyroid, parathyroid, adrenal, and neuroendocrine tumor operations across the health system in order to improve patient access and quality. Conditions commonly referred for surgery include thyroid nodules, goiters, thyroid cancer, Graves’ disease, hyperparathyroidism, and adrenal nodules, tumors, masses, and cancer.
Why choose endocrine surgery at the Cleveland Clinic?
Experience
Numerous studies have repeatedly demonstrated that patients experience better outcomes when their endocrine operations are performed by high-volume surgeons. The Department of Endocrine Surgery at the Cleveland Clinic includes six specialized endocrine surgeons with shared commitments to best practices and superior outcomes.
All six endocrine surgeons are high-volume, resulting in the group performing more than 1,000 thyroid, parathyroid, adrenal and neuroendocrine operations per year. It is the nation’s first and only department of endocrine surgery, the busiest endocrine surgery practice in Ohio, and one of the busiest endocrine surgery practices in the world. In addition, the group is at the forefront of emerging treatments, technology, and surgical approaches, including robotic surgery.
Each surgeon in the group also conducts research, serves on national committees, and is recognized nationally and internationally for their contributions in endocrine surgery. This provides unique expertise when performing both routine and complex surgeries, including re-operations.
Convenience
The administrative staff, nurses, and surgeons within the Department of Endocrine Surgery make every effort to improve access to specialized endocrine surgery care for patients across Northeast Ohio, the United States, and the world. The majority of patients can undergo comprehensive consultation and schedule surgery in one or two visits, even patients who live outside Cleveland or outside the United States. To reduce multiple visits for patients, all six endocrine surgeons perform ultrasound, thyroid biopsy, and video testing of the vocal cords the same day of the initial office visit.
What We Treat
The Department of Endocrine Surgery specializes in thyroid, parathyroid, adrenal, and neuroendocrine tumor operations. Endocrine surgery is a distinct field that combines endocrinology, oncology, and surgery. Cleveland Clinic is recognized in the U.S. and throughout the world for its expertise and care. Conditions commonly referred for surgery include thyroid nodules, goiters, thyroid cancer, Graves’ disease, hyperparathyroidism, and adrenal nodules, tumors, masses, and cancer.
Thyroid:
- Thyroid Nodules.
- Thyroid (Multinodular) Goiter.
- Thyroid Cancer.
- Cervical Lymphadenopathy.
- Hyperthyroidism including Graves’ Disease.
Parathyroid:
- Primary Hyperparathyroidism.
- Secondary Hyperparathyroidism.
- Tertiary Hyperparathyroidism.
- Parathyroid Carcinoma.
Adrenal:
- Adrenal Incidentaloma.
- Adrenal Tumors.
- Adrenal Cancer and Metastases.
- Pheochromocytoma.
- Primary Hyperaldosteronism (Conn’s Syndrome).
- Hypercortisolism (Cushing’s Syndrome).
Neuroendocrine Tumors:
- Metastatic Tumors to the Liver.
- Gastrinoma.
- Glucagonoma.
- Insulinoma.
- Non-functional Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors.
Familial Syndromes:
- MEN 1/MEN 2 Syndromes.
- Cowden’s Syndrome.
- Familial Adenomatous Polyposis Syndrome.
Our Surgeons
The Department of Endocrine Surgery at the Cleveland Clinic is home to specialized endocrine surgeons with shared commitments to best practices and superior outcomes.
All six endocrine surgeons are high-volume, resulting in the group performing more than 1,000 thyroid, parathyroid, adrenal and neuroendocrine operations per year. It is the busiest endocrine surgery practice in Ohio and one of the busiest in the world. Each surgeon in the group also conducts research, serves on national committees, and is recognized nationally and internationally for their contributions in endocrine surgery. This provides unique expertise when performing both routine and complex surgeries, including re-operations.
Our team of endocrine surgeons
Appointments & Locations
To schedule an appointment with one of our endocrine surgical experts, please call 216.444.6568.
Locations
The endocrine surgery team provides specialty services across Northeast Ohio at following Cleveland Clinic locations, listed below.
Office visit locations
Surgery locations
Schedule a virtual or in-person consultation today! For all surgical consultations please call 216.444.6568 or email us at endosurge@ccf.org.
Virtual second opinions
If you cannot travel to Cleveland Clinic, help is available. You can connect with Cleveland Clinic specialists from any location in the world via a phone, tablet, or computer, eliminating the burden of travel time and other obstacles.
If you’re facing a significant medical condition or treatment such as surgery, this program provides virtual access to a Cleveland Clinic physician who will review the diagnosis and treatment plan.
Following a comprehensive evaluation of medical records and labs, you’ll receive an educational second opinion from an expert in their medical condition covering diagnosis, treatment options or alternatives as well as recommendations regarding future therapeutic considerations. You’ll also have the unique opportunity to speak with the physician expert directly to address questions or concerns.
Live Outside of Cleveland?
Services and accommodations for visiting patients
We make every effort to improve access to specialized endocrine surgery care for patients across Northeast Ohio, the United States, and the world.
The staff within the Department of Endocrine Surgery work closely referring physicians and do not require an extensive diagnostic workup prior to referral. To reduce multiple visits for patients, all five endocrine surgeons perform in-office ultrasound, thyroid biopsy, and video examination of the vocal cords on the same day of the initial consultation. Two programs exist to facilitate care for patients who are travelling from far distances: the “Fast-Track program and “Virtual Visits.”
Fast-Track program
If the diagnosis is already known and surgery has been recommended, patients may be a candidate for the “Fast-Track” program. Administrative staff will obtain previous medical records to be reviewed by the surgery team. For appropriate patients, a date for surgery can be chosen before visiting Cleveland and the pre-op consultation can be scheduled the day before surgery. This express care service allows a comprehensive consultation in one seamless visit to Cleveland.
Virtual visits
You can now stay connected to your healthcare team through virtual visits, using your smartphone, tablet or computer.
Why go virtual? It's an easy, convenient and secure way to see your provider face-to-face without having to leave home. This saves you travel time, parking fees and time spent in the waiting room — and you can also have a loved one or caregiver join you. If appropriate, you can also get a prescription sent to the pharmacy of your choice.
Many insurance companies cover the cost of virtual visits, so check with your insurance company ahead of time. Interested in getting started? Call your provider to find out what virtual visit options are available.
Robotic Surgery
Robotic endocrine surgery
The Cleveland Clinic's Thyroid Center is the only center in Ohio, and among a handful nationwide, offering robotic thyroidectomy and parathyroidectomy. This minimally invasive surgical procedure removes all or part of the gland and eliminates the need for an incision in the neck, by moving the incision to under the arm.
Robotic thyroidectomy currently works best for patients who are not overweight, and who have a smaller thyroid gland (4 cm at the largest) and smaller nodules (2 to 3 cm at the largest). Patients with thyroiditis and Graves' disease are excluded due to inflammation involving the thyroid gland. Robotic parathyroidectomy currently works best for patients who are not overweight and who have a single parathyroid adenoma shown on preoperative sestamibi scan and/or neck ultrasound. Your endocrine surgeon will help determine the best option for you.
Call 216.444.6568 to schedule a consultation for both conventional and robotic thyroid, parathyroid, or adrenal surgery.
