Scheduling an Appointment
How do I make an appointment to see a thyroid specialist?
To make an appointment to see a thyroid specialist at Penn Medicine, please call 800-789-7366 (PENN). Please let the scheduler know what condition you are being referred for and also the location where you would like to be seen.
How do I schedule an appointment at the Thyroid Nodule Clinic in the Perelman Center for Advanced Medicine?
This clinic is for patients who were recommended to have a biopsy. If you are not sure you need or want a biopsy, or have had a recent biopsy, please call 1-800-789-7366 (PENN) to schedule a new patient consultative visit and not an appointment in the Thyroid Nodule Clinic.
To schedule an appointment at the thyroid nodule clinic, please fax the following to Susan Mandel, MD c/o Rashawnda Sillah at 215-614-0418:
- Name
- Contact information including phone number and address
- Copy of most recent thyroid function blood test results
- Thyroid ultrasound report
Your information will be reviewed to determine if you can be directly scheduled into a biopsy appointment. If review of the records does not clearly indicate that a biopsy should be the next immediate step, you will be scheduled for a comprehensive evaluation by one of our endocrinologists.
How do I reschedule or cancel an appointment?
If you need to reschedule or cancel an appointment, please call 1-800-789-7366 (PENN).
Please try to give at least 48 hours’ notice prior to your scheduled appointment.
What to expect
What should I expect during a thyroid ultrasound?
A Penn ultrasound staff member performs a thyroid ultrasound. This is a non-invasive evaluation to assess the thyroid gland and surrounding structures, including lymph nodes. The ultrasound scan will be evaluated by one of our thyroid specialists to determine if a biopsy is needed.
What should I expect during a thyroid biopsy?
A thyroid biopsy can determine if cancer cells are present in the thyroid.
A thyroid biopsy uses a very thin needle – thinner than the one used to draw blood – to sample some of the cells from the thyroid nodule. Our onsite cytopathologists will be available to evaluate the sample to determine if there are enough cells to render a diagnosis. In some cases, molecular testing may be indicated and will be discussed at the visit. The final cytology results will come back in a few days and we will call you with the results and next steps.
There are no special preparations for this biopsy. You may eat beforehand and you may drive afterward. You may also bring a support person, who is welcome to remain present in the room while you have your evaluation and possible biopsy.