Treatment for Thyroid Cancer and other Endocrine Cancers

Diagnosing & Staging Endocrine Cancer

• Blood chemistry studies that measure the amount of calcium and other substances that organs and tissues release into the body.
• Blood hormone studies that measure the amounts of certain hormones released by organs and tissues.
• CT scans that create detailed, cross-sectional images of tumors and other structures in your body. 
• Laryngoscopy to view whether your vocal cords are moving normally.
• MRIs that use magnets and radio waves to take detailed pictures that reveal the size of the mass, the type of tissue it originated in and whether it has spread to nearby tissues. 
• Needle or surgical biopsy to remove a small sample of a tumor for testing.
• Ultrasound to show the size of a thyroid nodule and whether it’s a solid or fluid-filled cyst.

Thyroid Cancer Treatment Options

Our multidisciplinary team of endocrine experts works closely together to customize a plan of care that meets your unique needs.

Traditional Surgery

Often thyroid cancer is treated with surgery alone, especially if the cancer is small.

Minimally Invasive Surgery

Our surgeons make small incisions in the neck or back and insert video-assisted scopes to magnify so they can see clearly while removing part or all of a gland or tumor. This technique speeds healing and reduces your risk of scarring.

Radioactive Iodine Therapy

For larger endocrine cancers, a radioactive pill is given to destroy residual thyroid cancer cells after the thyroid gland has been removed during surgery, with little or no damage to other tissues in the body.

Chemotherapy

Some thyroid and adrenal tumors may require targeted therapies, chemotherapy or immunotherapies after surgery. Our endocrinologists select chemotherapy combinations that will respond best to the genetic mutations and molecular structure of your tumor.