Endocrinologist Belgrade

What is endocrinology?

Endocrinology is a special branch of medicine in which the number of patients is significantly increasing. This branch of medicine deals with disorders of the endocrine system and its specific secretions, hormones. Hormones are responsible for regulating numerous functions in the body, such as growth, development and reproduction, and also the reaction to stress, for example.

As a consequence of disorders in the functioning of the endocrine system, various metabolic disorders can occur, such as diabetes, infertility, increased or decreased function of the thyroid or parathyroid glands, osteoporosis, obesity, etc.

What is the endocrinologist's specialty?

An endocrinologist is a subspecialist of internal medicine who treats patients with endocrinological and metabolic disorders.

Endocrinologist Belgrade - which problems do our endocrinologists treat?

The endocrinologists of Poliklinika Beograd diagnose and treat problems in the functioning of:

• the pituitary gland
• the thyroid gland
• the parathyroid glands
• the adrenal glands
• the sex glands (ovaries and testes)
• the endocrine pancreas, with special reference to patients with diabetes mellitus

What is endocrine surgery?

Endocrine surgery is a branch of medicine that deals with diseases of the endocrine system, the glands and the substances they secrete (hormones), as well as biopsy, surgery and removal of part or all of the thyroid gland, the parathyroid and adrenal glands.

When is it time for endocrine surgery?

In more severe conditions and diseases of the endocrine system that require surgical intervention, in addition to endocrinologists, the endocrine surgeons of our polyclinic are also involved. The following text will explain the more severe conditions and diseases of the endocrine system that endocrine surgery deals with.

Endocrine surgery - the most common operations

Total thyroidectomy and hemithyroidectomy (removal of half of the thyroid gland) are the two most frequently performed operations in endocrine surgery. Smaller procedures used to be performed as well, nodulectomies, which removed only the nodules in the thyroid gland, but that practice was abandoned due to complications that arose during reoperations, which were often necessary after nodulectomies.

The thyroid gland - functional disorders and diseases 

The thyroid gland is one of the largest endocrine glands in the human body. Thyroid hormones affect growth and maturation, accelerate the breakdown of fats and the synthesis of proteins, and play a key role in the development of the nervous system. The human body tolerates neither a decrease nor an enlargement of the thyroid gland.

What is hypothyroidism?

Hypothyroidism is a common metabolic disorder, most common in women. It is a condition in which the thyroid gland does not produce enough hormones. One of the signs that indicates the onset of hypothyroidism can be an increased value of the TSH hormone and, at the same time, a decreased level of the T3 and T4 hormones.

Symptoms of hypothyroidism: problematic skin (dermatitis, flaking, dry and rough skin); thin hair that falls out; swelling (a puffy face, swollen eyelids, swelling of the legs); poor concentration and frequent mood changes and swings; menstrual cycle disorders in women.

What is hyperthyroidism?

Hyperthyroidism is an increased function of the thyroid gland, which results in the secretion of hormones into the blood far more than the body needs. It occurs more often in women, between the ages of 20 and 50. The most common cause of hyperthyroidism is considered to be excessive activity of the thyroid gland caused by an autoimmune process. If hyperthyroidism is not treated, serious damage occurs, most often to the cardiovascular system.

Symptoms of hyperthyroidism: a rapid heartbeat, noticeable fatigue of the body, weight loss, hair loss, reduced sharpness of vision, trembling of the hands, nervousness, emotional instability, irritability, menstrual cycle disorders in women.

Hyperthyroidism is diagnosed by a clinical examination by an endocrinologist, an ultrasound examination of the neck, i.e. the thyroid gland, and laboratory analyses of the T3, T4 and TSH hormones. Therapy involves the use of antithyroid drugs, i.e. thyreostatics, and in more severe cases a surgical procedure is necessary.

What is a goiter?

A goiter is an enlargement of the thyroid gland. It can be multinodular or nodular. The causes most often cited for the development of a nodular goiter include a chronic lack of iodine in food and drinking water, chronic stress, as well as chemical and physical agents. It affects all generations, and is more common in females.

Symptoms of a goiter: A goiter is an enlargement of the thyroid gland, sometimes several times its natural size. In such situations, the enlarged thyroid gland compresses the surrounding tissues (the trachea, the esophagus, the large blood vessels of the neck), so difficulty swallowing, breathing, a change in the tone of voice and hoarseness can occur. In addition to these functional problems, a goiter is also a pronounced aesthetic problem. The neck looks swollen, and in some cases bulges are visible on it.

Diagnosing a goiter: At the first meeting with the patient, the endocrinologist or endocrine surgeon determines the position of the thyroid gland, its consistency and mobility, the presence of nodules, as well as any enlargement of the regional lymph nodes. As part of checking the function and the current condition of the thyroid gland, it is necessary to do an ultrasound of the neck, laboratory analyses related to determining the hormonal status, and possibly a cytodiagnostic puncture and scintigraphy of the thyroid gland.

Thyroid gland tumors

A thyroid gland tumor manifests as a nodule in the gland itself or in a goiter. Thyroid gland tumors can be benign and malignant. Benign tumors are adenomas and they grow slowly and for a long time, without pronounced symptoms. They are usually painless, of an elastic consistency, with a smooth surface, and are not fixed to the skin or the underlying tissue, so they can sometimes be seen when swallowing. The prognosis of benign thyroid gland tumors is good, and the problems they create are successfully eliminated.

Unlike adenomas, malignant tumors are most often a single nodule, hard and painless, fused with the surrounding tissue. We distinguish papillary, follicular, anaplastic and medullary ones. Most often there is no pain; weakness, hoarseness and fatigue are possible in advanced stages. Treatment is surgical (thyroidectomy) and involves the removal of the thyroid gland. Hormone use is lifelong.

What does thyroid gland surgery look like?

For more severe diseases and problems in the functioning of the thyroid gland, the involvement of an endocrine surgeon is necessary. The thyroid gland is removed in the event of a disorder of its structure and function and if there is a suspicion of carcinoma. Thyroid gland surgery is a treatment method that can be chosen when the gland is enlarged and presses on the surrounding organs. The pressure exerted by the thyroid gland can interfere with the vocal cords causing hoarseness, interfere with the trachea when a person has difficulty breathing and with the esophagus when they have difficulty swallowing. A disorder of the structure of the thyroid gland is seen in the appearance of a goiter, an enlargement of the thyroid gland. Surgery is also recommended in cases of chronic inflammation of the thyroid gland.

How long does thyroid gland surgery take?

The thyroid gland surgery itself (endocrine surgery) performed at Poliklinika Beograd takes from an hour and a half to two hours and is performed under general anesthesia. The patient most often goes home the very next day after surgery and returns to their usual life activities. Immediately after surgery, physical activity and fatigue are not recommended.  After surgery there is a plaster at the incision site, which is removed after one day and no further dressing is needed. There are no stitches to be removed and patients can shower normally. The surgical check-up is 7-14 days after surgery.

Which surgeons perform thyroid gland surgery at Poliklinika Beograd?

An expert team of endocrine surgeons headed by Prof. Dr Aleksandar Diklic performs thyroid gland surgeries at Poliklinika Beograd. Professor Aleksandar Diklic is a full professor at the Faculty of Medicine, an endocrine surgeon who has so far operated on more than 7,000 patients with diseases of the endocrine glands, the highest percentage of which are of the thyroid gland.

More information about the work and experience of Prof. Dr Aleksandar Diklic can be found on this page: Prof. Dr Aleksandar Diklic.

What is life like after thyroid gland surgery?

Life after thyroid gland surgery returns to normal very quickly, complications are very rare, mostly temporary damage to the nerves that enable the movement of the vocal cords, which causes hoarseness. Patients whose thyroid gland has been removed must take hormone replacement in the form of one tablet a day.

Why is it not good to delay thyroid gland surgery?

All the information on why it is not good to delay thyroid gland surgery can be found on this page: DO NOT DELAY THYROID GLAND SURGERY.

Endocrinologist Belgrade

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Which symptoms indicate that it is necessary to visit an endocrinology specialist?

Diabetes, infertility, thyroid gland disorders, osteoporosis, obesity and polycystic ovaries are some of the serious metabolic disorders of the endocrine system and symptoms that make it necessary to visit a specialist in endocrinology, and in some cases a specialist in endocrine surgery. Since a significant number of endocrine diseases do not manifest dramatically at their onset, patients often ignore them at first and do not accept them as a problem. Endocrine surgery and endocrinology are specialist branches of medicine in which the number of patients is significantly increasing.

The best endocrine surgeon in Serbia and the region

Professor Aleksandar Diklic is a full professor at the Faculty of Medicine, an endocrine surgeon with more than 30 years of experience.

Has operated on more than 7,000 patients

Prof. Dr Aleksandar Diklic has so far operated on more than 7,000 patients with diseases of the endocrine glands, the highest percentage of which are of the thyroid gland. Endocrinologist, endocrinologist, endocrinologist - have you entered these words several times into a Google search because you are looking for the best endocrinologist in Belgrade? You are in the right place. An endocrinologist or an endocrine surgeon? Now you are wondering who you should consult regarding the problem you have? The following text will explain when it is time to consult an endocrinologist, and when an endocrine surgeon.