What is the Endocrine System?
The endocrine system is made up of a collection of specialized structures found in different parts of the body that secrete chemical substances directly into the blood which produce profound effects on many parts of the body. Insulin is a well-known example of one of these chemical substances known as a hormone which controls blood sugar levels. Testosterone is another example of a well-known hormone that causes the development of male sexual characteristics. Excessive amounts of these hormones in the blood can produce cause illness and produce abnormal effects on the body. While in normal individuals insulin is secreted in the proper amounts from the from pancreatic islet cells in just the right amount to keep your blood sugar levels within normal limits, patients with a particular kind of tumor of the pancreas, excessive insulin is produced in the blood that can cause an imbalance in blood sugar levels. Hormones may be produced in improper amounts by a variety of metabolic irregularities or by endocrine tumors which may be either benign (non-cancerous) or malignant (cancerous). An example of a metabolic imbalance that adversely affects hormones is obesity. One of the newest indications for the gastric bypass and lap-band procedures are to treat diabetes from hormone imbalance.
What are some of the tumors of the endocrine system that can be treated surgically?
An example of an endocrine gland that may be removed surgically is the adrenal gland. The tumors that commonly occur in the adrenal gland may produce an excess of hormones involved in regulation of sexual characteristics, salt balance and stress hormones. Conditions of the adrenal gland that may be treated surgically include Cushing’s disease, Conn’s syndrome and pheochromocytoma. Laparoscopic adrenalectomy is the treatment of choice for non-malignant tumors less than 10cm. Laparoscopic procedures for are particularly well suited for addressing tumors of the adrenal glands as well as for the removal of non-functioning islet cell tumors of the pancreas. These procedures include distal pancreeatectomy, distal pancreatectomy with preservation of the spleen, and enucleation. Treatment of functioning islet cell tumors, including insulinoma, gastrinoma, glucagonoma, VIPoma, somatostatinoma and other functioning neuroendocrine tumors are also possible laparoscopically. In some instances, central pancreatectomy as well as the Whipple procedure may also be approached with minimally invasive techniques. Endocrine tumors can be benign or grow as cancers. Often this distinction between what is only an abnormal growth and what represents cancer is a complicated issue that requires a team approach and collaboration with endocrine specialists throughout all stages of the surgical treatment and follow-up. Dr. Belsley and the team of minimally invasive surgeons at St. Luke’s – Roosevelt Hospital takes full advantage of the expertise of our referring physicians as well as the advanced diagnostic and treatment facilities available in our institution.
