Overview

Surgeons in the Section of Endocrine and Oncologic Surgery provide the most up-to-date care for diseases of the breast and endocrine system (the adrenal glands, pancreas, parathyroid, thyroid and other endocrine organs), melanoma and sarcoma while seeking to advance treatment of these diseases through leading-edge research.

Washington University breast cancer surgeons are leaders in breast cancer treatment with the use of such techniques as:

• Sentinel node mapping (locating and removing only the sentinel lymph node – the first lymph node to which breast cancer is likely to spread – in order to check for evidence of cancer)
• Brachytherapy (a form of radiation therapy used with small breast cancers that have been completely excised and have not spread to any lymph nodes)
• Surgical approaches that aid in breast conservation
• Ductoscopy for diagnosis and treatment in women with pathologic nipple discharge or who are at high risk for developing breast cancer

With one of the largest endocrine surgery practices in the country, the section’s surgeons also offer expertise in the management of thyroid cancer, adrenal tumors and hyperparathyroidism. Section Chief Jeffrey Moley, M.D., is acknowledged as a world expert in the treatment of Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia (MEN)-2 syndromes and also is an expert in reoperations for recurrent thyroid cancer.

Washington University endocrine and oncologic surgeons – who participate in protocols of the American College of Surgeons Oncology Group (ACOSOG) and the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) as well as Phase 2 Consortium Institutional (P2C) trials – provide care at the Alvin J. Siteman Cancer Center. The Center, a National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center, offers clinical trials that evaluate new therapies for breast and thyroid cancer.

The section also is involved in resident education – providing clinical training and research opportunities for general surgery residents – and offers a breast disease fellowship. Current research programs in the section include the MEN syndromes, glucose transporter expression in cancer, fluoro-deoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) imaging of thyroid nodules, and hypoxia and tumor response to radiation.

Please browse our web site to learn more about our clinical and research programs.