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Thyroid Unit

The Thyroid and Radioactive Isotope Therapy Unit provides a comprehensive service for patients with malignant and non-malignant thyroid tumours

In the UK thyroid cancer is rare with only 800 new cases registered per year. In England and Wales there are approximately 200 female and 70 male deaths attributed to thyroid cancer annually.

The Thyroid Unit provides a complete diagnostic, treatment and follow-up service for patients with any thyroid abnormality. These include over- or under-activity, nodules (either solitary or multiple) and cancer. Although malignant tumours are rare, the Unit probably treats more patients with cancer of the thyroid than any other centre in the United Kingdom; its expertise and facilities are second to none.

Referrals

Patients may be referred to the Unit after initial investigations have been performed at a local provider unit. A wide national and international system of referrals has been established.

The Unit has close links with the Department of Endocrinology at St Helier Hospital NHS Trust (Carshalton) and with the Department of Surgery at St George's Hospital (Tooting).

Multidisciplinary team

The Unit comprises a multidisciplinary team headed by a clinical oncologist, Dr Kate Newbold. Expertise is drawn from the Departments of Medicine, Surgery, Radiotherapy, Nuclear Medicine, Physics and from The Institute of Cancer Research. Family screening and genetic counselling are also available.

Systemic isotope therapy

Systemic isotope therapy is available in the form of mIBG for metastatic medullary carcinoma. This isotope may also be useful in the treatment of other neural crest tumours such as metastatic phaeochromocytoma and paraganglioma. A full range of other isotope treatments is available.