Thyroid Disease - Mayo Clinic

We treat:

Enlargement of the thyroid, such as thyroid goiters
Genetic conditions such as multiple endocrine neoplasia
Graves' disease
Thyroid cysts and nodules
All thyroid cancer, including papillary, follicular, Hurthle cell and medullary cancer

Our centralized, highly skilled, experienced multidisciplinary team of specialists work together to provide a condensed visit where your ultrasound, labs, biopsy, and endocrinologist and endocrine surgeon visit can all be conveniently provided on the same day. The streamlined workup and treatment help achieve the best possible outcomes for you.

The team includes:

Endocrinologists specializing in thyroid and related diseases who will perform the initial evaluation to confirm the diagnosis and determine the best treatment option for you. If surgery is of benefit, they will refer you to our specialized endocrine surgeons.
Fellowship trained endocrine surgeons who perform a high volume of thyroid surgeries and use the most advanced surgical techniques to preserve delicate nerves and minimize scars while achieving high cure rates and low rates of complications.
A radiology team experienced in thyroid disease. Our ultrasound technicians and radiologists are experienced in providing an accurate diagnosis.

We combine highly specialized knowledge with deep experience to provide precise diagnosis and treatment. Our approach includes:

Advanced Imaging. Our radiologists have exceptional track records in evaluating high-resolution ultrasounds and characterizing whether a nodule may be cancer. Our thyroid ultrasound protocols include a thorough evaluation of the lymph nodes in the neck, which is important for subsequent planning. If a fine needle biopsy is needed, our pathologists provide precise diagnosis, quickly.

Frozen section to rapidly diagnose tumors and provide precise treatment. During surgery, right after a tumor is removed, Mayo Clinic pathologists rapidly diagnose the tumor under a microscope in a lab near the operating room. This expert collaboration enables surgeons to accurately plan the next steps in your surgery and treatment – and to discuss them with your loved ones while you are in surgery, and with you while you’re in recovery.

At Mayo Clinic, we also offer a full spectrum of methods to manage your thyroid disease. Non-surgical methods include:

Radiofrequency ablation
Ethanol ablation
Active surveillance as indicated

When surgery is required, our surgeons have extensive experience in all aspects of thyroid gland surgery, including minimally invasive incisions, partial and complete removal of the gland as necessary, nerve monitoring, and treatment of neck lymph nodes with metastatic disease.

Studies show people who receive care from surgeons who perform at least 50 thyroid procedures each year have better outcomes. Surgeons at Mayo Clinic perform hundreds of thyroid procedures every year, so you can feel confident you’re in expert hands.

Our surgeons’ specialized training enables them to remove only the thyroid tissue that is necessary, and to keep half of your thyroid intact when possible, making your recovery and long-term health management easier.

With our surgeons’ experience and expertise, you have a reduced risk of complications such as bleeding, infection, or parathyroid injury.

Treatment of Thyroid Disease and Cancer at Mayo Clinic.

The thyroid conditions that we treat in Endocrine and Metabolic Surgery at Mayo Clinic include thyroid cancer, enlargement of the thyroid, such as thyroid goiters, conditions in which you produce too much hormone from your thyroid, including Graves' disease and toxic nodules. We also treat genetic conditions including multiple endocrine neoplasia. The multidisciplinary team really revolves around the idea that an endocrinologist as well as an endocrine surgeon will evaluate a patient together.

When a patient is coming from out of town, we work to consolidate their care so that their appointments are streamlined, we arrange to get the ultrasound, the blood tests, the biopsy, a visit with the surgeon and then surgery all during one visit. Frozen section pathology is something that we have available to us for all of our procedures here at Mayo Clinic. So we can take a biopsy of something that we find at the time of surgery and have it evaluated while a patient's still asleep even to determine whether this is something of concern or something not.

The one thing that I find that makes a huge difference for patients and their outcome is our radiologists and the ultrasound to be able to do the lymph node mapping, so as a surgeon, I know where the disease is, and we're not leaving cancer behind. We offer you a variety of treatments. We have radiofrequency ablation, we also offer radioactive iodine in cases of Graves' disease. We were one of the first centers to offer ethanol ablation. And everything that is out there is available here at Mayo Clinic. We have all of the latest imaging techniques. We have the latest treatment options available and we have true experts in their field.

Experts in treating all forms of thyroid disease

Innovative treatment options and advanced surgical approaches.

Advanced diagnosis and treatment.

Highly ranked care

Treatment of Thyroid Disease and Cancer at Mayo Clinic.

When it's time to find answers, you know where to go.

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