Timothy M. Pawlik, MD, PhD, MPH, MTS, MBA, FACS, FSSO, FRACS (Hon.), Consulting Editor

This issue of the Surgical Oncology Clinics of North America focuses on surgical endocrinology. Surgery of the thyroid, parathyroid, adrenal, and endocrine pancreas has been performed for centuries as part of general surgery. Only in the twentieth century did surgeons begin to consider the endocrine system in a more holistic way, incorporating an understanding of underlying hormonal/chemical perturbations with anatomic organs. During the twentieth century, there were many surgical pioneers in endocrine surgery that addressed newly defined diseases and syndromes. For example, Sir John Bland Sutton performed the first parathyroidectomy in London around 1918, while adrenalectomy for pheochromocytoma was performed by Cesar Roux in Lausanne and by Charles Mayo in 1926. Other pioneers included Theodor Kocher, Thomas Dunhill, and George Crile, who pioneered safe thyroid surgery. In the early 1970s, the world’s first-ever course on endocrine surgery was established at the Hammersmith Hospital. This course brought together the world’s leaders in the field and established Hammersmith Hospital as a center of endocrine surgery. From 1970 to 1971, Dr Orlo Clark was an endocrine surgical fellow with Mr Selwyn Taylor and Professor Richard Welbourn at Hammersmith Hospital. Later, Dr Clark would note that the timing was right for the development of endocrine surgery as a specialty outside of general surgery. Dr Clark, in conjunction with Drs Norman Thompson, Edwin Kaplan, Jack Monchik, and Tony Edis, would go on to start the American Association of Endocrine Surgeons. With the recent passing of Dr Clark, it is only appropriate that we dedicate this issue of Surgical Oncology Clinics of North America to Dr Clark and his profound scientific and clinical impact on surgical endocrinology. In turn, I am grateful to have Nancy D. Perrier, MD, FACS as the guest editor of this important issue of Surgical Oncology Clinics of North America. Dr Perrier is the Ruth and Walter Sterling Endowed Professor of Surgery, as well as Chief of Surgical Endocrinology at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. Dr Perrier has had a life-long career interest in endocrine neoplasms. Her scholarly works include more than 350 publications, and 42 book chapters. She has extensive experience and leadership in the area of surgical endocrinology and is therefore imminently qualified to be the guest editor of this important issue of Surgical Oncology Clinics of North America.

The issue covers a range of important topics related to surgical endocrinology. In particular, the issue highlights contemporary treatment of medullary thyroid carcinoma, postoperative surveillance, and adjuvant therapy for parathyroid carcinoma, as well as multimodality treatment of adrenal tumors, including adrenocortical carcinoma and pheochromocytomas. In addition to these important topics, the authors also provide a contemporary state-of-the-art update on clinical management of pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors. The team of expert coauthors also provide insights into the role of lobectomy versus total thyroidectomy for differentiated thyroid cancer, as well as the role of central neck dissection in the management of such diseases as papillary thyroid carcinoma.

I wish to express my sincere gratitude to Dr Perrier for her efforts to amass such a wonderful group of leaders in the field of surgical endocrinology. These expert authors have done a masterful job outlining the latest updates in surgical endocrinology that will benefit both trainees and faculty. I know that this issue of Surgical Oncology Clinics of North America will serve to inform surgeons about the latest up-to-date data on the surgical management of endocrine tumors. Once again, my sincere gratitude to Dr Perrier and all the authors for contributing to this issue of the Surgical Oncology Clinics of North America. In addition, we collectively salute the legacy of Dr Orlo Clark for blazing the trail in surgical endocrinology that has benefited so many surgeons, endocrinologists, trainees, and—most importantly—patients.

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soc.2023.01.001

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