The Penn Medicine Thyroid Nodule Clinic is for patients who were recommended to have a thyroid nodule biopsy.
If you have been told that you may need a thyroid nodule biopsy, please call 215-662-2300 and ask for a biopsy appointment in the Penn Thyroid Nodule clinic at the Perelman Center for Advanced Medicine.
If your thyroid ultrasound was not done at Penn Medicine, you will need send the following information to Susan Mandel, MD, c/o Rashawnda Sillah by uploading the documents in MyChart by myPennMedicine or sending them via fax to 215-614-0418.
- Thyroid ultrasound report
- Most recent thyroid function blood test results (called a TSH)
Your information will be reviewed to determine if you can be directly scheduled into a biopsy appointment. If the review of the records and ultrasound images 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.
We will call you within seven business days after your records are received. If you do not hear from us by then or if you have any additional questions, please call 215-662-2300.
What to expect at the Thyroid Nodule Clinic
During your first visit to the Thyroid Nodule Clinic, a Penn ultrasound staff member will perform a thyroid ultrasound.
The ultrasound scan will be evaluated by Dr. Susan Mandel, Director of Clinical Endocrinology and Diabetes, or Dr. Kristen Kobaly, Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine, in conjunction with a radiologist.
Dr. Mandel or Dr. Kobaly will then determine if a thyroid biopsy is needed and will perform the biopsy.
What to 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 take blood for blood tests — to sample some of the cells from the thyroid nodule.
There are no special preparations for this biopsy. You may eat beforehand and you may drive afterward. You may also bring one support person with you, who is welcome to remain present in the room during your evaluation and possible biopsy.
Other Thyroid Biopsy Appointments
The following Penn endocrinologists also perform thyroid needle fine aspiration biopsy in the office. A pathologist is available for immediate evaluation of the biopsy.