Thyroid care

The thyroid is a small, butterfly-shaped gland located at the base of the neck that plays an important role in your health. By producing hormones that regulate metabolism, growth, and energy use, the thyroid affects nearly every system in the body. When thyroid function is disrupted, the effects can ripple outward, causing changes in weight, mood, energy, heart health, bone strength, and more.

At Penn Medicine, you’ll find a team of specialists dedicated to diagnosing, managing, and treating thyroid conditions. Our endocrinologists, endocrine surgeons, oncologists, radiologists, pathologists, and other experts throughout our system come together to deliver seamless, coordinated care. Our approach enables timely, accurate diagnoses and recommendations tailored to you—whether that means simple observation, medical therapy, surgical treatment, or some combination of these. We treat both common thyroid disorders, like hypothyroidism, as well as complex conditions, such as thyroid cancer.

Penn Medicine is host to groundbreaking research efforts that are shaping the future of thyroid care, including clinical trials for thyroid cancer and other conditions that affect the thyroid.

Thyroid nodules are common and are mostly benign. However, some nodules may cause symptoms such as difficulty swallowing, voice changes, or cosmetic concerns, and others may need to be evaluated for cancer.

The Thyroid Nodule Clinic at the Perelman Center for Advanced Medicine offers a streamlined approach to evaluating thyroid nodules and guiding patients through the next steps in their care. Established by Dr. Susan Mandel, MD, MPH, an international leader in thyroid disorders and thyroid cancer care, we are the only dedicated thyroid nodule clinic in the southeastern Pennsylvania and New Jersey regions.

Here, patients can receive comprehensive evaluation in a single setting, often avoiding multiple appointments. We use the latest diagnostic and imaging technology to assess and treat thyroid nodules and thyroid cancer. We provide on-site evaluation using thyroid fine needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy. Our team of experts provides quick and comprehensive evaluations, often giving preliminary reports on the same day.