[Conservative surgical techniques: thyroid gland and adrenal gland surgery]

Atraumatic surgery in endocrine tumors means both anatomically atraumatic and functionally adequate. Anatomically, in thyroid diseases above all both the recurrent nerve and the parathyroids have to be preserved; also an minimally visible scar is of importance for the patient. Functionally, adequate technique in nontoxic goiter rendering the patient euthyroid despite the removal of all nodules. In diffuse autonomy and Graves' disease, hypothyroidism must be taken into account. Among adrenal tumors, pheochromocytomas deserve a careful approach: adequate preparation and early ligation of the adrenal vein after transabdominal access are the main goals. All other benign tumors should be resected through a posterior incision. Preserving a remnant of a normal adrenal gland after surgery for bilateral tumors is controversial.