Diagnosis

Blood and urine tests will look for abnormal hormone levels.

Your doctor may suggest ultrasound, computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans. These are painless procedures that offer a detailed look inside your body for evidence of tissue or gland abnormalities. Diagnosing neuroendocrine tumors may require the use of positron emission tomography (PET), which uses radioactive material, injected into a vein, to improve image quality.

Your surgeon will collect a small sample of the abnormal tissue for further analysis by the lab, which will look for the presence of cancer cells. Often these samples can be collected through a long thin tube, inserted through your throat or rectum. But surgery is sometimes required.

Since some endocrine cancers have potential genetic links, your doctor may suggest genetic testing to help you better understand your risk for other cancers – and how an inherited gene could affect your children.

Surgery is often the first choice with endocrine tumors. We offer the latest minimally invasive surgeries, reducing your recovery time, lowering the risk of complications and getting you out of the hospital faster. Surgeries target the tumor but may also require the removal of part or all of the gland and surrounding tissue.

What is thyroid radiofrequency ablation (RFA)?

Thyroid RFA is a minimally invasive non-surgical procedure that uses electricity (created by radio waves) to shrink benign thyroid nodules. The Orlando Health Cancer Institute Endocrine Cancer Center is among the first in Orlando to offer this highly effective treatment. Instead of traditional surgery under general anesthesia, RFA is performed as an outpatient procedure using local anesthesia.

With this FDA-approved procedure, a small needle is inserted through the front of your neck and guided with ultrasound to the thyroid nodule, where it destroys only the nodule. It takes an hour or less and you can go home the same day.

After the procedure, the average nodule shrinks by 80 percent, with most of the reduction occurring during the first three months. Gradual shrinking can continue for up to one year afterward. If the nodule regrows, the procedure can be repeated.

Who benefits?

Most thyroid nodules are benign and do not require treatment. Thyroid RFA offers a minimally invasive way to treat benign nodules that are causing discomfort, cosmetic concerns or thyroid dysfunction (hyperthyroidism). Compared with surgery, thyroid RFA offers:

• Less down time after the procedure
• No scar
• Little to no effect on the hormone production of your normal thyroid gland

Only a small fraction of thyroid nodules are cancerous (malignant). Those are usually treated with surgery and other therapies.

What are the symptoms of thyroid nodules?

Even benign thyroid nodules can be disruptive to your quality of life. Thyroid RFA offers an innovative way to deal with nodules that:

• Are making it difficult for you to swallow or breathe
• Create the sensation of having something in your throat
• Can be seen as an unsightly swelling at the base of the neck
• Cause thyroid dysfunction (hyperthyroidism), which can lead to:
  • Unexplained weight loss
  • Tremors
  • Excessive sweating
  • Irregular heartbeat
  • Nervousness

Request an appointment

If a benign thyroid nodule is affecting your quality of life or if surgery has been recommended, our highly specialized team is ready to evaluate you for thyroid RFA.

Your surgeon uses a small incision (about an inch wide) in your neck to reach and remove the faulty parathyroid gland. Previous procedures required a larger incision, sometimes on both sides of the neck.

High-energy X-rays (or other types of radiation) are used to destroy cancer cells.

These treatments are often paired with surgery to improve outcomes. Among the options are chemotherapy and radioactive iodine.

Immunotherapy treatments are medicines that stimulate your immune system to fight cancer. These treatments can include either synthetic (artificial) immune system proteins or medicines to help your body release cells that attack cancer cells.