Endocrine Surgery & Oncology

Our areas of expertise in endocrine cancer surgery

At UCSF Health, our endocrine surgery and oncology specialists deliver leading-edge care. Our capabilities are backed by decades of research that have helped set the standard for advanced endocrine surgery. We offer dedicated programs that give you condition-focused care and access to experts in:

• Thyroid and parathyroid surgery
• Adrenal surgery
• Familial endocrine neoplasia

Endocrine diseases we treat

As a high-volume program, we have experience diagnosing and treating all types of endocrine diseases, including:

• Adrenal tumors and cancers
• Benign thyroid disorders, including hyperparathyroidism and hypothyroidism
• Neuroendocrine tumors
• Parathyroid cancer
• Thyroid cancer
• Thyroid nodules and goiters

Accurate diagnoses and second opinions

Our experts routinely evaluate uncommon and complex endocrine conditions using the latest tools and techniques, including:

• 4D parathyroid CT. Precisely locates diseased glands to make surgery more effective
• Laryngeal ultrasound. Monitors vocal cord function before and after surgery
• Parathyroid PET/MRI. Detects abnormal parathyroid glands without radiation
• Ultrasound-guided biopsy. Removes a sample of tissue from a thyroid nodule to test it for cancer

At UCSF Health, our endocrine surgeons and endocrinologists specialize in genetic endocrine disorders, such as hereditary medullary thyroid cancer and multiple endocrine neoplasia. We use advanced molecular testing to analyze cancer cells in your body. By looking for changes in genes (mutations), we can better determine which treatments are most likely to be effective for you.

Minimally invasive endocrine surgery

Whenever possible, we select less invasive treatments to help you have an easier recovery with fewer side effects. We are leaders in laparoscopic and robotic surgical techniques, which use smaller incisions than traditional open surgeries. Our surgeons also use advanced intraoperative monitoring to protect the nerves that control your vocal cords, so there's less risk of voice changes or hoarseness after surgery.

Posterior retroperitoneoscopic adrenalectomy (PRA)

UCSF Health is one of the few programs in California with more than a decade of extensive experience in PRA, a minimally invasive technique to remove adrenal tumors through small incisions in your back. Our surgeons helped pioneer this advanced procedure that offers many benefits to patients, including:

• No incisions in your abdomen
• Lower risk of damage to other organs
• Shorter hospital stay
• Less pain during recovery
• Faster return to normal activities