Located in Fort Lauderdale, the Minimally Invasive Endocrine Surgery Center (MIESC) at Imperial Point Medical Center, provides less invasive surgical alternatives for thyroid, parathyroid and adrenal tumors.

The human body contains seven endocrine glands that manufacture blood chemicals (hormones) controlling body metabolism, the stress response, reproduction and other vital functions. Hormone producing tissues (endocrine glands) in the human body are especially susceptible to tumor growth. In particular, the thyroid, parathyroid and adrenal glands are common sites for cancerous and non-cancerous growths called “nodules”. Women are particularly affected by growths in these three glandular sites, and surgery is often required for both correct diagnosis and definitive treatment of the “nodule problem.”

Thyroid nodules most often are recognized by a physician examining the neck or they may be discovered when your doctor orders neck x-rays for another reason. Most often, these nodules do not produce an excessive amount of thyroid hormone, but removal may be necessary if the nodule is too large or if a needle biopsy shows evidence of cancer. (The needle biopsy can be performed in the endocrinologist’s office under neck ultrasound guidance.)

Parathyroid nodules are discovered when the blood calcium level rises. Excessive secretion of parathyroid hormone into the blood raises the blood calcium and can cause bone loss or osteoporosis, kidney stones, stomach ulcers, pancreas inflammation, depression, fatigue, and high blood pressure. Parathyroid nodules can be visualized using office ultrasound and hospital-based Sestamibi nuclear scanning technology.

Adrenal nodules are typically discovered on x-rays of the abdomen. They may also be discovered if the patient displays evidence of high blood pressure or a heightened stress response (excessive adrenaline and cortisol levels). Once localized, adrenal nodules can often be removed surgically through a narrow tube called a laparoscope.

With the advent of new, less invasive surgical techniques, Imperial Point surgeons can now remove nodules of the endocrine glands through incisions less than one inch wide using operative procedures that require less time under anesthesia and shorter post-surgical hospital stays. Our sophisticated intra-operative blood hormone laboratory can determine if all the necessary tissue surrounding the nodule has been removed, while the patient is asleep on the operating table, thus eliminating the need for repeat surgeries down the road.

Once your primary physician has identified a problem with nodularity or hormonal over activity of the thyroid, parathyroid or adrenal, our endocrinologist can confirm the diagnosis and pinpoint the nodule in his office-based ultrasound suite. When the problem is diagnosed and localized, you will be referred to an endocrine surgeon for curative minimally-invasive endocrine surgery.

Why Choose the Minimally Invasive Endocrine Surgery Center at Imperial Point Medical Center?

• Imperial Point is equipped with all the latest minimally invasive instruments required to perform this highly sophisticated surgery.
• Imperial Point uses a 10 minute parathyroid hormone blood test to determine if all abnormal parathyroid tissue has been removed, while the patient is asleep on the operating table.
• Imperial Point has a special radioactive probe that can detect injected Sestamibi tracer in an abnormal parathyroid nodule during the surgical procedure. The probe actually guides the surgeon to the enlarged parathyroid gland which may be imbedded 2-3 inches deep in the neck.
• Hyperparathyroidism can be cured in 90% of patients by removing a single enlarged gland using minimally-invasive techniques.
• The key to success in endocrine surgery is experience. Our team of surgeons at Imperial Point perform more than 100 endocrine surgeries a year. Our endocrine surgeons are specially trained in minimally invasive techniques which require less time under anesthesia and produce cosmetically more acceptable scars.

Who should schedule an appointment?

• Patients with hyperparathyroidism or a nodule (lump) in his or her thyroid or adrenal glands
• Patients with thyroid hormone over-production
• Patients with high blood calcium or excessive parathyroid hormone production
• Patients with evidence of adrenal stress hormone over-production

If you suspect you have an endocrine problem, please contact your primary care physician first. If you don't have a primary care physician, please call Broward Health Line at 954-759-7400 for a free physician referral.