Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin Endocrine Surgery - Conditions and Treatments

In conjunction with our surgical pathologists, the Endocrine Surgery program provides overnight pathology for thyroid patients for patients undergoing thyroid lobectomy (removal of one half lobe of the thyroid gland). While a pathologist may perform an initial thyroid tissue evaluation (frozen section) during surgery, a more comprehensive analysis is still necessary to produce a final pathology report. In rare cases, if the final report shows cancer in tissue that was initially thought to be cancer-free, the patient may need another operation to remove the entire thyroid gland.

In most hospitals, the final pathology report is produced several days after initial thyroid surgery. Therefore, if a patient needs a second operation to remove the remaining thyroid gland, he or she must be readmitted to the hospital. Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin Endocrine Cancer Program pathologists have committed to providing the final pathology for thyroid patients in less than 24 hours. That way, if a patient needs an additional surgery, it may be done during the same hospital stay - typically the day after the initial surgery.

View more information on our thyroid program page and on the Froedtert Hospital website.

All patients seen in consultation by our surgeons for parathyroid disease will undergo pre-consultation studies, including laboratory work and imaging studies (ultrasound, Sestamibi scans, and, when needed, CT scans) for localization of the abnormal parathyroid(s). Depending on the results of the imaging studies, patients may be eligible for minimally invasive parathyroidectomy.

Our surgeons routinely use intraoperative parathyroid hormone monitoring during parathyroid surgery. Minimally invasive parathyroidectomy can be performed under general anesthesia or, for certain patients, under monitored anesthesia care (MAC). Select patients may also be eligible for outpatient parathyroid surgery, with discharge on the same day.

View more information on our program can also be found on our parathyroid program page and on the Froedtert Hospital website.

Depending on the indication for surgery, adrenal surgery may be done as an open procedure or as a minimally invasive (laparoscopic) procedure. Our surgeons are among a few across the nation that perform minimally invasive adrenal surgery through a retroperitoneal approach.

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Our surgical colleagues in the Division of Surgical Oncology and Division of General Surgery also specialize in the care of patients with other neuroendocrine tumors, such as insulinomas, gastrinomas, other neuroendocrine tumors of the pancreas, and carcinoid tumors.