Pheochromocytoma is a rare tumor, usually on the adrenal gland, that produces too much "fight or flight" hormones. This can lead to symptoms like high blood pressure, headaches, sweating, and a racing heart. While often sporadic, it is typically treatable by surgically removing the tumor, which can greatly improve well-being.

Pheochromocytoma

Drugs approved for Pheochromocytoma

Adrenal tumor overview (NCCN)

Pheo overview (NIH)

🟠 Adrenal removal surgery

University MDs Profile

UCSF Fresno Profile

Dr. Karipineni's Publications

Robotic Surgery Video

Doximity Profile

Community Service Video

An inguinal hernia occurs when soft tissue, like part of the intestine, bulges through a weak spot in your lower abdominal wall, often causing a noticeable lump in the groin. This can lead to discomfort, especially with straining or lifting. While some are present from birth, others develop due to muscle weakness or pressure. Surgical repair is a common treatment to prevent complications. Avoiding heavy lifting can help manage symptoms.

Hernias - Inguinal 

An abdominal wall hernia occurs when an organ or fatty tissue pushes through a weak spot in your abdominal muscles, often creating a noticeable bulge and discomfort, especially with strain. Causes can include heavy lifting, chronic cough, or prior surgery. While not always an emergency, hernias typically require repair, often surgically, to prevent potential complications.

Hernias - Abdominal Wall

Thyroid cancer occurs when cells in the butterfly-shaped thyroid gland in your neck grow abnormally. While often without early symptoms, some may notice a neck lump or voice changes. Causes can be unknown, but radiation exposure is a risk. It's often highly treatable with surgery, sometimes followed by radioactive iodine, and maintaining a healthy lifestyle is supportive.

Thyroid Cancer

Hyperparathyroidism occurs when your small parathyroid glands become overactive, producing too much hormone. This leads to elevated calcium in your blood, which can cause symptoms like fatigue, bone weakness, or kidney stones, and is often due to a non-cancerous growth. Management often involves monitoring or surgery, and lifestyle choices like hydration are important.

Hyperparathyroidism

Parathyroidectomy is a surgical procedure to remove one or more overactive parathyroid glands, typically in the neck. These tiny glands can produce excess hormone, leading to high calcium levels (hypercalcemia). This may cause symptoms like fatigue, bone pain, or kidney stones. The surgery aims to restore calcium balance, relieve symptoms, and improve overall well-being.

Parathyroidectomy

A thyroidectomy is a surgical procedure to remove all or part of your thyroid gland, a butterfly-shaped gland in your neck. It's typically performed to treat conditions like thyroid cancer, large goiters (enlarged thyroid), or an overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism). After surgery, patients often need daily thyroid hormone replacement medication to maintain body functions and well-being.

Thyroidectomy

Hemithyroidectomy is surgery to remove one half of your thyroid gland, a butterfly-shaped organ in your neck. This procedure is often performed to address thyroid nodules, cysts, or certain early-stage cancers, either for diagnosis or treatment. While aiming to preserve some thyroid function, long-term monitoring and potential thyroid hormone medication might be needed.

Hemithyroidectomy

Hashimoto's Thyroiditis is an autoimmune condition where your immune system attacks your thyroid gland, often leading to an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism). Common symptoms include fatigue, weight gain, and cold sensitivity. It's typically managed with daily thyroid hormone replacement medication, supported by healthy lifestyle choices, to help restore balance and improve well-being.

Hashimoto's Thyroiditis

An adrenal nodule is a small growth found on one of your adrenal glands, which sit atop your kidneys. Often discovered by chance during scans for other reasons, most are benign (non-cancerous) and don't cause symptoms. While many only require monitoring, some may produce excess hormones or, less commonly, be cancerous, necessitating further evaluation and potential treatment.

Adrenal Nodule

Cushing Syndrome occurs when your body has excessive cortisol, a stress hormone. This can be due to long-term steroid use or a growth in the adrenal or pituitary glands. Symptoms often include weight gain, thin skin, and muscle weakness. Treatment focuses on reducing cortisol levels, usually through medication adjustment or surgery, supported by healthy lifestyle choices.

Cushing Syndrome

Hyperaldosteronism is a condition where your adrenal glands make too much aldosterone, a hormone that regulates salt and water balance. This often leads to high blood pressure, sometimes difficult to control, and low potassium. It can be caused by a benign growth or overactive glands, and is managed with medication or sometimes surgery, alongside lifestyle adjustments for blood pressure.

Hyperaldosteronism

Robotic adrenalectomy is a minimally invasive surgery to remove an adrenal gland, or part of it. Performed by a surgeon using robotic instruments through small incisions, it's often done for tumors (benign or cancerous) or overactive glands causing hormone imbalances. This approach typically leads to less pain and a faster recovery than traditional surgery.

Robotic Adrenalectomy

Graves' disease is an autoimmune condition where your immune system mistakenly causes your thyroid gland to produce too much hormone (hyperthyroidism). This overactivity can lead to symptoms like rapid heartbeat, anxiety, unexplained weight loss, and fatigue. Treatment typically involves medications, radioactive iodine therapy, or surgery to manage thyroid function.

Graves' Disease & Hyperthyroidism

"Scarless thyroidectomy" is a modern surgical method to remove part or all of the thyroid gland, typically for conditions like nodules, goiter, or cancer. Unlike traditional surgery, this advanced approach avoids a visible neck incision by accessing the thyroid through hidden areas, such as the mouth or armpit, minimizing scarring and improving appearance. It offers a less noticeable recovery for patients needing thyroid treatment.

Scarless Thyroidectomy

Farah Karipineni, MD, MPH, FACS

Community Specialty Surgery Associates

Associate Professor of Surgery

Surgery (General)

Health issues treated by operations and care for healing.

Surgical and Post-Surgical Care

Conditions that don't fit into other main groups. A mixed collection of health issues.

Other

Conditions that doctors fix, remove, or repair using an operation.

Common Surgical Procedures

Conditions where an internal body part bulges through a weak area.

Hernias

Issues with your thyroid (energy) and parathyroid (calcium) glands.

Thyroid and Parathyroid Conditions

Medical procedures are planned steps healthcare professionals take to diagnose, treat, or manage various health conditions. These can include diagnostic tests like imaging, therapeutic interventions, or surgical operations, all aimed at improving your health.

Procedures

Problems with glands on your kidneys that make hormones for stress, energy, and blood pressure.

Farah Karipineni, MD, MPH, FACS, MD

Pheochromocytoma

Recommended Resources

Common Medication for Pheochromocytoma

Related Resources from Dr. Karipineni

Meet Dr. Karipineni

Locations

Find me online