Clinical Expertise

UCI School of Medicine oncology surgeons are part of a multidisciplinary team that manages tumors within the gastrointestinal (GI) tract and peritoneum, such as gastric and colorectal cancers, appendiceal tumors, peritoneal carcinomatosis and GI stromal tumors. The roles of our faculty members may include laparoscopic staging, resection of affected organs and lymph nodes (as an open procedure or using minimally invasive techniques), cytoreductive surgery (CRS) and heated intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC). The peritoneal malignancy program, led by Maheswari Senthil, MD, utilizes CRS and HIPEC and is of national repute.

Treatment options for soft tissue sarcomas are highly variable due to the wide range of subtypes, body parts involved and size of these tumors, and may include chemotherapy, radiotherapy and/or surgery. For retroperitoneal sarcomas, surgery is the primary treatment. Our surgeons are experienced in performing “en bloc” resections of surrounding tissues and organs, vascular reconstructions and limb-sparing techniques, and collaborate with the plastic surgery team to close large, complex wounds.

The Division of Surgical Oncology is responsible for the management of adrenal tumors (although the majority of these are benign). For hormone-secreting or larger (>4 cm) tumors, we perform laparoscopic adrenalectomies. Malignant adrenal tumors typically require a multidisciplinary approach, which may include surgery.

UCI School of Medicine surgical oncologists perform various surgeries in the neck to treat thyroid cancers, benign thyroid conditions (such as nodules, compressive goiters or Graves’ disease) and hyperparathyroidism. Treatment decisions for thyroid cancer are made in conjunction with endocrinologists and include partial or total thyroidectomies, with or without lymph node resection. For substernal goiter resection, a combined approach with our thoracic surgeons may be used. Intraoperative nerve monitoring is routinely used during thyroid cases to ensure proper functioning of the recurrent laryngeal nerves.

For parathyroidectomies, parathyroid hormone levels are monitored intraoperatively to determine adequate removal of all hyperfunctioning parathyroid glands.

The Division of Surgical Oncology is involved in the surgical treatment of skin cancers, including basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas and melanoma. Depending on the procedure required to excise these cancers, our faculty surgeons may collaborate with dermatologists for Mohs surgical procedures and plastic surgeons to perform complex closures, local flap coverage or skin grafts.

UCI School of Medicine Division of Surgical Oncology faculty members are highly practiced in the surgical management of breast cancer. The division offers procedures including the full range of mastectomies, from total to partial, and skin- or nipple-sparing techniques, along with sentinel node biopsies and axillary lymph node dissection. Our breast surgeons work in close conjunction with plastic surgeons to ensure the best surgical plan for each patient, and joint cases involving both breast and plastic surgeons are commonly performed in those who prefer immediate reconstruction.

Our breast surgeons also treat benign breast diseases such as fibrocystic disease, breast cysts, fibroadenomas, phyllodes tumors, intraductal papillomas, fat necrosis and hyperplasia. In addition, the division closely monitors patients at high risk for breast disease.