Endocrine Surgery
Specialized care for the thyroid and parathyroid glands
Endocrine surgery concerns notably diseases of the thyroid and parathyroid glands when surgical treatment is indicated. In Nyon, Dr Pierre Fournier manages these conditions with an individualized approach, based on medical evaluation, imaging, anatomy and coordination with the other specialists involved.
Specialized care for the thyroid and parathyroid glands
The thyroid and the parathyroid glands are two anatomically close endocrine systems with very different functions.
The thyroid contributes notably to metabolic regulation through the production of thyroid hormones. The parathyroid glands, small glands usually located near the posterior surface of the thyroid, play an essential role in calcium regulation.
Whether surgery is used depends on the pathology, the assessment results, the symptoms, imaging findings and the patient’s individual situation. Surgery is therefore not an automatic consequence of finding an abnormality.
Two Fields of Endocrine Surgery
Go directly to the care pathway that concerns you.
Thyroid Surgery
Thyroid surgery may be considered in different situations: certain nodules, goiters, hyperthyroidism or thyroid cancers, depending on the clinical context and the assessment results. The extent of surgery is adapted to each situation and can involve part or all of the thyroid.
Parathyroid Surgery
Parathyroid surgery mainly concerns certain forms of hyperparathyroidism when surgery is indicated after biological, clinical and radiological evaluation. The surgical strategy depends notably on the medical context and preoperative localization data when they are needed.
Before Surgery: Understanding, Assessing, Deciding
Medical Evaluation
The first step is to precisely understand the condition, its progression, any symptoms and the patient’s history.
Laboratory Testing and Imaging
Depending on the condition, the evaluation may combine laboratory tests, ultrasound and other imaging examinations. In certain parathyroid situations, imaging is mainly used to locate an abnormal gland once the biological diagnosis has been established.
An Individualized Decision
The surgical indication and the choice of surgical strategy are based on all of this information. The goal is to offer care adapted to the patient’s situation, rather than a systematic approach.
An Anatomy That Demands Precision and Preservation
Thyroid and parathyroid surgery takes place in an anatomical region where several important structures lie very close to one another.
The recurrent laryngeal nerves are notably involved in vocal cord mobility. Healthy parathyroid glands, in turn, play an essential role in calcium balance.
Identifying and preserving the important anatomical structures is therefore an integral part of the surgical strategy.
Coordinated Care
Endocrine surgery is frequently part of a care pathway combining several areas of expertise: primary care, endocrinology, radiology, nuclear medicine, pathology and surgery according to the needs of each situation.
This coordination allows clinical, biological and radiological data to be brought together before defining the therapeutic strategy.
For further medical information on endocrine conditions, the Endocrinology, Diabetology and Metabolism department of the Geneva University Hospitals (HUG) provides detailed resources for patients.
A Coordinated Medical and Surgical Approach
The management of thyroid and parathyroid conditions relies on exchange between the various professionals involved in diagnosis, evaluation and treatment.
When the situation requires it, this collaboration allows endocrinological and surgical considerations to be integrated into a decision adapted to the patient.
Learn More About Your Care
Looking for information about the thyroid?
Discover the indications, the assessment, the main procedures and the care pathway in thyroid surgery.
Looking for information about the parathyroid glands?
Discover the role of the parathyroid glands, the evaluation of hyperparathyroidism, preoperative localization and the principles of parathyroid surgery.
Would You Like to Discuss Your Situation?
A consultation allows your file and any test results already available to be reviewed, and, when surgery is being considered, its indication and terms to be discussed.