Endocrine Surgery Glossary
100 terms total — 24 showing — Last updated 15 Sep 2026
Graves' disease
Autoimmune disorder causing hyperthyroidism through thyroid-stimulating immunoglobulins that mimic TSH action.
adenoma-to-hyperplasia ratio
Pathological assessment comparing adenomatous tissue to hyperplastic tissue in parathyroid specimens.
adrenalectomy
Surgical removal of one or both adrenal glands, requiring distinction between unilateral and bilateral procedures.
anaplastic thyroid carcinoma
Highly aggressive, undifferentiated thyroid cancer with poor prognosis.
autotransplantation
Surgical technique involving removal and reimplantation of parathyroid tissue to preserve function while treating hyperp...
Berry ligament
Posterior suspensory ligament of the thyroid gland that attaches to the cricoid cartilage and first tracheal rings.
Bethesda System
Standardized reporting system for thyroid cytopathology, essential for surgical decision-making.
calcitonin
Hormone produced by thyroid C cells that regulates calcium metabolism and serves as a tumor marker for medullary thyroid...
capsular invasion
Tumor penetration through the fibrous capsule surrounding thyroid nodules.
central neck dissection
Surgical removal of lymph nodes in the central compartment of the neck during thyroid cancer surgery.
cervical lymphadenopathy
Abnormal enlargement of lymph nodes in the neck region.
Chvostek sign
Clinical sign of hypocalcemia demonstrated by tapping the facial nerve to elicit muscle twitching.
cinacalcet
Calcimimetic medication used to treat secondary hyperparathyroidism.
completion thyroidectomy
Surgical removal of the remaining thyroid lobe after prior hemithyroidectomy. Often performed when cancer is discovered...
cricothyroid myotomy
Surgical division of the cricothyroid muscle to lower vocal pitch, sometimes performed during thyroid surgery.
cricothyroid space
The anatomical space between the cricoid and thyroid cartilages. Site for emergency airway access procedures.
EBSLN
External branch of the superior laryngeal nerve, responsible for cricothyroid muscle innervation.
external branch of the superior laryngeal nerve
Motor nerve branch innervating the cricothyroid muscle, injury to which causes voice pitch and projection problems.
FNA
Fine needle aspiration, diagnostic procedure used for thyroid nodule evaluation.
focused parathyroidectomy
Targeted surgical removal of a single parathyroid adenoma using preoperative localization studies and intraoperative PTH...
follicular adenoma
Benign encapsulated thyroid nodule composed of follicular epithelial cells.
four-dimensional CT
Advanced imaging technique using time as the fourth dimension to localize hyperfunctioning parathyroid glands.
frozen section
Rapid intraoperative histopathological examination of tissue using frozen tissue preparation techniques.
Graves' disease
Autoimmune disorder causing hyperthyroidism through thyroid-stimulating immunoglobulins that mimic TSH action.
hemithyroidectomy
Surgical removal of one lobe of the thyroid gland, also called thyroid lobectomy.