Dear Friends and Colleagues,

During the past years, some minimally invasive procedures for endocrine surgery have been described. Most of these techniques have been demonstrated as feasible and safe. At the moment, they can be proposed for great number of patients with various endocrine diseases. In well skilled hands the results from minimally invasive procedures can be almost comparable with those of conventional surgery, but they have additional advantages in terms of operation trauma, cosmetic result and postoperative pain. Therefore, these procedures should be considered a valid option by surgeons dealing with endocrine surgery.

On behalf of the Local Organizing Committee, it is our pleasure to invite you to actively participate at the international scientific congress "Minimally invasive technologies in endocrine surgery", which will take place in St.Petersburg (Russia), 22- 25 May, 2008. This is a good opportunity to meet all specialists involved in the field of minimally invasive endocrine surgery. It will be of a special interest to surgeons, endocrinologists, medical oncologists and radiologists. This Congress will include panel discussions, point debates, video sessions, live surgery sessions and posters. A full social program in the evenings will give attendees the opportunity to meet the culture of Russia and one of its most beautiful cities - St. Petersburg.

Specially built as an imperial capital, Saint Petersburg has a unique ambience that is nowhere else to find. It is still referred to as the cultural or Northern capital of Russia. Its palaces, museums, theatres, distant suburbs and parks are renowned pieces of the world's cultural heritage. Its founder Peter the Great aimed it first and foremost as a port city opening an outlet for Russia to the Baltic Sea and to the countries of Europe and introducing Russia to the rest of the world. Over the course of many years a window in Europe has developed as a center of vital ties between East and West, Europe and Asia, both a birthplace and a second home for the traditions of the world culture. Nowadays Saint Petersburg combines its fascinating Russian heritage with European traditions.

We are looking forward to welcome all of you in St.Petersburg, in May of 2008.

Organizing committee members