
Patient Education Site
Find out about diseases of the parathyroid glands, thyroid gland, adrenal glands, and neuroendocrine system.
Link to Patient EducationFind out about diseases of the parathyroid glands, thyroid gland, adrenal glands, and neuroendocrine system.
Link to Patient EducationAAES is dedicated to the advancement of the science and art of endocrine surgery.
The American Association of Endocrine Surgeons (AAES) is dedicated to the advancement of the science and art of endocrine surgery. Our members have clinical expertise in and research interests that focus on endocrine surgical diseases. They are certified by either the American Board of Surgery of the United States, the Royal College of Surgeons of Canada or the equivalent governing boards in Mexico and South America. Our membership has recently expanded to include international leaders in endocrine surgery and allied specialists that have demonstrated a similar focus of practice. The AAES is committed to providing surgical expertise in diseases of the thyroid, parathyroid, adrenal glands as well as in neuroendocrine tumors of the pancreas and GI tract. Our goal is to discover and promote the best treatments for endocrine disease to help improve our patients' lives.
For more information please visit us at www.endocrinesurgery.org
Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information in this directory. However some changes may occur between updates. Please check with your provider to ensure that he or she participates in your health plan.
Last Updated: February 13th, 2012
The thyroid gland is an important organ that secretes a hormone (thyroid hormone), which controls the body's metabolism. Thyroid hormone affects many bodily functions including heart contractil...
Read MorePrimary hypothyroidism is caused by an underlying disease of the thyroid. The most common causes of primary hypothyroidism are autoimmune thyroiditis (i.e. Hashimoto's thyroiditis&nb...
Read MoreIf you feel a thyroid nodule, your doctor will initially start the evaluation by a physical exam and laboratory tests to check if your thyroid function is normal. The next step is usually a thyroid...
Read MoreThe neck muscles may feel stiff and sore for a few days. Most patients return to their daily activities in a few days and work, with some limitations, within a week. Strenuous activity and heavy li...
Read MoreSurgery for hyperthyroidism usually means removing the entire thyroid gland (total thyroidectomy) with the goal of making the patient hypothyroid and then starting thyroid hormone replacement pills...
Read MoreA well balanced diet should include all the minerals needed to help support the function of the thyroid. Deficiencies in some minerals can contribute to thyroid issues (see below), but excess suppl...
Read MoreWhen thyroid function tests are borderline, deciding to take thyroid medication can be a difficult decision. Most endocrine specialists recommend waiting at least three months to repeat a borderlin...
Read MoreA thyroid nodule is a growth within the thyroid gland. Thyroid nodules are extremely common, and nodules large enough to be felt can be seen in 5 to 10 percent of women and 1 to 5 percent of men. A...
Read MoreA trachea evaluation may include a CAT scan or bronchoscopy (small tube with a camera on the end) and may be done if a large thyroid is pushing on the trachea (windpipe). A large mass may cause a d...
Read MoreA vocal cord evaluation determines how well the nerves that go to the vocal cords are working. The evaluation of the vocal cords is done with a flexible laryngoscope (small tube with a camera on th...
Read MorePatients with primary thyroid lymphoma (PTL) typically present with a rapidly growing thyroid mass and may experience hoarseness, difficulty breathing or, less commonly, significant swallowing prob...
Read MoreThe symptoms of low blood calcium level include a tingling or "pins and needles" feeling, usually around the mouth and in the fingertips. Severely decreased calcium can cause spasm or "locking up" ...
Read MoreAlthough your scar is small on the outside, many tissue layers are divided to reach the thyroid gland. The layers are generally stitched back together at the end of the surgery. The normal healing ...
Read MoreYou should not drive or drink alcohol while taking narcotic pain medications. You should also not drive until your neck has comfortable, full range of motion.You should not soak or scrub your incis...
Read MoreMost patients prefer to use some pain medication for a few days after thyroid surgery. There is pain at the neck incision, and many patients have a sore throat due to the plastic endotracheal breat...
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