Endocrinology

Nationally Ranked in Endocrinology

UT Southwestern Medical Center is ranked by U.S. News & World Report as one of the nation's top 20 hospitals for diabetes and endocrinology care.

UT Southwestern Medical Center is widely recognized as a leading clinical and research center for the accurate diagnosis and effective evidence-based treatment of conditions related to the endocrine system.

Our nationally ranked diabetes and endocrinology team offers exceptional medical management for endocrine disorders. For patients who require surgical treatment, our leading endocrine surgeons provide high-quality care that’s second to none in North Texas – and among the best in the world – for endocrine disorders.

World-Class Care Committed to Improving Outcomes

The endocrine system is a group of glands that includes the thyroid, parathyroid, pancreas, ovaries, testes, adrenal glands, pituitary gland, and hypothalamus. These glands produce hormones, which are chemical substances that send messages that regulate activities such as metabolism, reproduction, growth, and development.

The endocrine system carefully regulates the amount of hormone each gland produces and releases in the body. If the gland produces too much or too little of a hormone, the balance is disrupted and can lead to various health conditions known as endocrine disorders. Many of the hormones interact with each other, creating feedback systems that help maintain hormonal balance.

Why Choose UT Southwestern for Endocrinology Care?

UT Southwestern physicians are among the top in the nation in treating diseases of the endocrine system. We have one of the largest groups of endocrinologists and endocrine surgeons in the country. The group includes internationally recognized leaders who are at the forefront of understanding the pathology of diseases and defining new treatments that are expanding options for patients.

Our multidisciplinary team of endocrine surgeons, endocrinologists, oncologists, specialists in medical imaging, and other health care professionals work together to provide coordinated care based on each patient’s needs.

As a leading academic medical center, we deliver endocrinology care that includes both medical and surgical management. Our endocrinologists and endocrine surgeons collaborate closely to provide personalized treatment plans for complex hormone and metabolic disorders.

Endocrinology Conditions

Our endocrinology service offers patients advanced treatments for:

Diabetes: Diabetes is the most common endocrine disorder in the U.S. We provide comprehensive medical management for Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes, including advanced insulin therapies, continuous glucose monitoring, and educational programs.
Lipid metabolism disorders: These conditions, which include elevated cholesterol and triglycerides, affect how the body processes fats. Our team develops personalized treatment plans that may include drug therapies, nutritional counseling, and exercise recommendations. We also offer LDL apheresis, a nonsurgical procedure for patients with very high cholesterol that hasn't responded to other treatments.
Bone disorders (osteoporosis): Our endocrinologists evaluate and treat conditions that affect bone metabolism, including osteoporosis and disorders of calcium balance. We played a key role in developing calcium citrate, a highly absorbable form of calcium now widely used in osteoporosis care.
Pituitary and adrenal disorders: These conditions affect glands that regulate growth, stress response, blood pressure, and metabolism. Treatments include hormone replacement therapy (HRT), medications to stop excess hormone production, and minimally invasive surgery to remove tumors.
Thyroid and parathyroid disorders: Many thyroid and parathyroid conditions are managed medically with hormone therapy and ongoing monitoring. If surgery is needed, our endocrinologists collaborate closely with endocrine surgeons.

Specific conditions we treat include:

Thyroid and Parathyroid Disorders

Hyperthyroidism
Hypothyroidism
Thyroid cancer
Thyroid nodules
Graves’ disease
Goiter
Hyperparathyroidism
Hypoparathyroidism

Pituitary Disorders

Acromegaly
Cushing disease
Pituitary adenomas
Prolactinoma

Adrenal Disorders

Adrenal cancer
Aldosteronism (hyperaldosteronism or Conn’s syndrome)
Cushing syndrome
Paraganglioma
Pheochromocytoma
Adrenal incidentaloma
Aldosteronoma
Adrenal insufficiency
Neuroendocrine Pancreatic Disease
Benign and malignant tumors of the pancreas and gastrointestinal (GI) tract
Multiple endocrine neoplasia (MEN1)
Somatostatinoma
VIPoma
Zollinger-Ellison syndrome

Surgical treatment for pituitary tumors is provided in collaboration with the UT Southwestern neurosurgery team.

Symptoms and Diagnosis

Symptoms vary depending on the endocrine condition and disorder.

Diagnosis may include blood tests, imaging studies such as ultrasound, and, when necessary, biopsy.

Treatments

Many endocrine and metabolic disorders are managed with medical therapy and long-term monitoring. Our experienced endocrinology team provides comprehensive care for conditions such as diabetes, thyroid disease, lipid disorders, bone disorders, and hormone imbalances affecting the pituitary and adrenal glands.

Medical treatments may include:

Hormone replacement therapy to restore normal hormone levels
Medications to reduce excess hormone production
Insulin therapy and advanced glucose monitoring for diabetes
Cholesterol-lowering therapies and LDL apheresis for severe lipid disorders
Bone-strengthening medications and calcium or vitamin D supplementation

When surgery is needed, our endocrine surgeons are dedicated to offering patients leading-edge treatments for disorders and tumors that affect the endocrine system, as well as neuroendocrine diseases of the pancreas and GI tract. Their experience includes specialized expertise in groundbreaking treatments for complex thyroid and parathyroid cancers, including metastatic diseases.

Each of our patients can expect to have access to a comprehensive range of treatments, with surgeons focused on achieving the best possible outcomes and minimizing recovery times whenever possible. Our surgical techniques include:

Conventional surgical approaches
Minimally invasive endocrine surgery, such as parathyroidectomy
Laparoscopic techniques, such as adrenalectomy
Robotic surgery

UT Southwestern endocrine surgeons are available for immediate appointments, whether as initial consults or for second opinions. Learn more about endocrine surgery or schedule an appointment.

Clinical Trials

Our clinicians work in unison with our researchers to provide patients with the most up-to-date therapeutic interventions for endocrine disorders. Talk to our doctors to see if a clinical trial is available.