Prof. Dr. med. Andreas Martin Raffel

Specialist in endocrine surgery, thyroid surgery and parathyroid surgery in Gelsenkirchen

Marienhospital Gelsenkirchen· Virchowstr. 135, 45886 Gelsenkirchen

Prof. Dr Andreas Martin Raffel is a recognised specialist in endocrine surgery, with a particular focus on the surgical and minimally invasive treatment of disorders of the thyroid and parathyroid glands. As Head of the Department of Surgery at Marienhospital Gelsenkirchen, he has many years’ experience in treating benign and malignant conditions of the hormone-producing organs.

The focus is on the most precise possible diagnosis and individually tailored, tissue-sparing treatment methods. In addition to conventional thyroid and parathyroid surgery, minimally invasive procedures are also used where medically appropriate. These include, in particular, thermal ablation of thyroid nodules, which allows selected nodules to be treated without traditional surgery and without leaving a visible surgical scar.

Areas of focus

Endocrine surgery
Thyroid surgery
Parathyroid surgery
Surgery for thyroid nodules
Surgery for thyroid cancer
Treatment of thyroid autonomy / hot nodules
Surgical treatment for Graves’ disease
Surgery for goitre / an enlarged thyroid
Minimally invasive thyroid surgery
Thermoablation of thyroid nodules
Treatment of parathyroid adenomas
Surgery for primary and secondary hyperparathyroidism
Minimally invasive parathyroid surgery
Surgery for parathyroid tumours
Second opinions on disorders of the thyroid and parathyroid glands

Admission criteria

At least 10 years of surgical and treatment experience
Expertise in modern diagnostic and surgical procedures
An outstanding treatment focus within your own specialist area
Member of a leading national professional association
Leading professional position
Active participation in specialist events (e.g. lectures)
Active in research and teachin
Evaluated quality management (e.g. certification)

About Prof. Dr. med. Andreas Martin Raffel

Prof. Dr Andreas Martin Raffel, MD, is Head of the Department of Surgery at Marienhospital Gelsenkirchen and specialises in endocrine surgery. His clinical work focuses in particular on disorders of the thyroid and parathyroid glands.

With more than 3,000 procedures in the field of endocrine surgery, including more than 2,500 thyroid operations and more than 500 procedures on the parathyroid glands, Prof. Raffel has extensive surgical experience. His range of treatments extends from benign thyroid nodules and thyroid enlargement, through functional disorders such as thyroid autonomy and Graves’ disease, to malignant thyroid conditions.

Another area of specialisation is parathyroid surgery. In cases of parathyroid hyperfunction, or hyperparathyroidism, the affected parathyroid glands can be precisely localised prior to the procedure and subsequently removed via a very small skin incision. During the operation, the success of the treatment can be monitored, amongst other things, by measuring parathyroid hormone levels. The aim is to provide treatment that is as precise and tissue-sparing as possible.

However, not every thyroid nodule requires surgery. The Surgical Endocrinology Centre in Gelsenkirchen therefore also offers modern, minimally invasive treatment options. For suitable benign thyroid nodules, for example, thermal ablation can be performed. In this procedure, a probe is inserted into the nodule under ultrasound guidance and the affected tissue is treated selectively using heat. The healthy thyroid tissue is spared as much as possible. This procedure avoids the need for a traditional surgical scar and general anaesthesia.

Treatment at the Surgical-Endocrine Centre in Gelsenkirchen is carried out on an interdisciplinary basis. Specialists from various medical disciplines work closely together on diagnosis, treatment and aftercare. Particularly in the case of complex or malignant conditions, findings are discussed on an interdisciplinary basis and treatment is planned individually in accordance with current medical guidelines.

Prof. Raffel thus offers patients with disorders of the thyroid and parathyroid glands a wide range of services – from specialised diagnostics and second opinions through minimally invasive treatments to complex endocrine surgery.