Endocrine & Thyroid Surgery
Dr Clement has advanced training in endocrine, thyroid and neck surgery and can perform expert thyroid, parathyroid and adrenal gland surgeries.
Thyroid conditions
Dr Clement offers specialist surgical treatment of the following thyroid conditions:
Goitre (enlarged thyroid gland)
Thyroid nodules and cysts
Thyroid cancer
Grave’s disease
Hashimoto’s thyroiditis
Thyroglossal cyst
Thyroid surgery includes Hemithyroidectomy & total thyroidectomy
Hemithyroidectomy:
Hemithyroidectomy is the removal of one half of the thyroid gland. You may need hemithyroidectomy for the following reasons:
Suspicious thyroid nodule or suspected thyroid cancer.
Goitre/nodule causing compressive symptoms (difficulty swallowing, speaking, breathing, coughing, and pain/fullness/discomfort in the neck).
Hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid) due to a solitary nodule.
Large thyroid gland (Goitre) affecting the cosmetic appearance of the neck.
Total thyroidectomy:
Total thyroidectomy is where the entire thyroid gland is removed.
You may need total thyroidectomy for the following reasons:
Thyroid cancer.
Enlarged thyroid gland (Goitre) with compressive symptoms (difficulty swallowing, speaking, breathing, coughing, and pain/fullness/discomfort in the neck).
Over-active thyroid (Grave’s disease) where the medical management is not effective or contraindicated.
Large thyroid gland (Goitre) affecting the cosmetic appearance of the neck.
Parathyroid conditions
Parathyroid glands are usually located in the neck, which produce parathyroid hormone (PTH). Sometimes they can be as low as in the chest cavity.
Overactive parathyroid glands or hyperparathyroidism can be asymptomatic or incidentally picked up on a blood test. Treatment include watchful waiting or surgery.
Parathyroid surgery (Parathyroidectomy) is usually indicated if you have one or more overactive glands causing high calcium in your blood (hyperparathyroidism). Parathyroidectomy can remove the abnormal gland or glands. Most often this abnormal gland is benign (not a cancer). Over 95% of patients are cured after surgery. Parathyroid cancer is exceedingly rare.
Adrenal gland surgery
Adrenal glands are small glands that sit on top of the kidneys. Adrenal surgery is required in patients with an overactive adrenal gland due to a tumour producing excessive hormones. This can lead to:
Cushing’s syndrome – excess cortisol producing adrenal tumour causing high blood pressure, diabetes, weight gain, moon face, and thin skin.
Conn’s syndrome – excess aldosterone hormone producing tumour causing fluid and salt retention, and high blood pressure.
Phaeochromocytoma – excess adrenaline and noradrenaline producing tumour causing very high blood pressure. This is a serious condition affecting your heart.
Dr Clement works in conjunction with endocrinologists and offers both open and minimally invasive laparoscopic adrenal surgery.
Dr Clement also specialises in laparoscopic posterior adrenalectomy, where the surgery is performed through three small incisions on your back. This technique is known to offer superior outcomes when compared to the other techniques. The advantages include:
Less operating time
Less blood loss
Less scarring
Less post-operative pain
Faster recovery and shorter hospital stay (usually discharged home the following day)
Faster return to normal activities
Neck dissection
Neck dissection is an operation where the lymph nodes of the neck are removed either because of known or suspected cancer that has spread into the lymph glands of the neck.
There are several types of neck dissection and the type you will have will depend on the type and location of cancer and whether it has spread to your lymph glands:
Selective neck dissection - where selected groups of lymph glands are removed.
Comprehensive neck dissection (radical or modified radical) - where in addition to the lymph glands other structures such as the neck muscle, nerve which allows you to shrug your shoulders, and veins may need to be removed.