The Department of Endocrinology and Diabetology, headed by Professor Andrea Lania, employs a team of qualified physicians dedicated to the diagnosis and treatment of endocrine diseases based on nationally and internationally recognized guidelines. The team treats over 13000 patients annually, and its main areas of clinical activity are:
- Oncological endocrinology
- Metabolic bone diseases
- Diabetes
- Medical andrology
Oncological endocrinology
Prof. Andrea Lania and Dr. Elisabetta Lavezzi, together with the Humanitas Department of Neurosurgery, coordinate the Pituitary Unit, in order to guarantee adequate diagnostic, therapeutic, and follow-up treatments to patients with pathologies of the hypothalamic-pituitary region . Pr. Lania also leads the Multidisciplinary Group of Neuroendocrine Tumors, recognized as the center of excellence by the European NeuroEndocrine Tumors Society (ENETS), and part of the European Network of Rare Solid Tumors (ERN-EURACAN) of the European Community. Additionally, Dr. Paolo Colombo manages the section dedicated to thyroid cancer, which is part of an Humanitas multidisciplinary team.
Metabolic bone diseases
Professor Gherardo Mazziotti heads the sub-unit of metabolic bone diseases, whose primary objective is to meet the needs of patients with primary and secondary osteoporosis, through multidisciplinary diagnostic and therapeutic pathways, based on the most recent scientific evidence and guidelines approved by national and international scientific societies. Particular attention is given to the integrated management of osteoporosis as a secondary condition to endocrinological, rheumatological, gastroenterological and neurological diseases, as well as drug-induced osteoporosis in patients suffering from neoplasms, systemic inflammatory diseases, as well as those recovering from recent transplant surgeries. In collaboration with the Orthopedics, Neurosurgery and Rehabilitation departments, the Department coordinates clinical pre-and post-surgical management of patients suffering from severe osteoporosis complicated by fractures of the vertebrae or femur and patients undergoing vertebral stabilization procedures for chronic degenerative and traumatic pathologies.
Diabetes
The sub-unit, lead by Doctors Marco Mirani and Giuseppe Favacchio, performs holistic and individualized diagnostics of diabetic patients to prescribe the best suited therapy. What is more, the team manages the Carbohydrate calculation program, dedicated to patients on insulin therapy. Through a series of scheduled meetings in groups, diabetologists and dieticians create a personalized ratio of insulin (I) / carbohydrates (CHO), Correction factor (CF) and Insulin sensitivity factor (SF) for each patient, which is essential for the daily management of diabetes. This program prepares the patient for the use of advanced technologies (such as insulin pumps).
Medical andrology
The Medical andrology sub-unit is headed by Doctors Alessandro Pizzocaro and Liborio Vacalluzzo and deals with male health, in particular, with hypogonadism and sexual dysfunctions: erectile dysfunction (often a “sentinel” symptom of vascular and metabolic pathologies), disorders of sexual desire and ejaculation, and Peyronie’s disease. The team also manages endocrinological problems that cause male infertility, in collaboration with the Department of Reproductive Medicine. The Italian Society of Andrology and Sexual Medicine (SIAMS) has recognized the sub-unit, which operates according to the international guidelines, as an “Accredited Center for Assistance”. Additionally, the Department of Endocrinology and Diabetology, and the Medical andrology sub-unit in particular, is a Rare Disease Center for hypogonadism (central hypogonadism and Klinefelter syndrome) recognized by the Lombardy Region.
