Exceptional Thyroid & Parathyroid Disease Treatment
At University of Utah Health, our endocrinologists have extensive experience in treating thyroid and parathyroid disorders. Our experts specialize in treatments that aren't widely available. Our diagnostic laboratory for thyroid and parathyroid disorders is one of the top three in the country.
We use leading-edge technology to give accurate diagnoses and inform our treatment plans:
- Neck ultrasounds
- 4D CT scans
- Nuclear medicine sestamibi
- Radioactive iodine scans
When you come to the Thyroid and Parathyroid Clinic, you will receive all the necessary diagnostic tests and treatments in one convenient location.
Thyroid & Parathyroid Disorders
The Thyroid & Parathyroid Clinic provides comprehensive care to our patients from diagnosis to long-term care. The majority of our patients undergoing procedures can also do same-day procedures during their office visit—which means less trips to our clinic. We treat many different types of thyroid and parathyroid disorders, including thyroid cancers.
Thyroid Disorders
- Hyperthyroidism: An overactive thyroid
- Hypothyroidism: An underactive thyroid
- Thyroid nodules: Growths that may be noncancerous (benign) or cancerous (malignant)
Parathyroid Disorders
- Hyperparathyroidism: Overactive parathyroid glands that can cause bone thinning, fractures, or kidney stones
- Hypoparathyroidism: Underactive parathyroid glands that can cause low blood calcium
Services & Treatments
We specialize in a vast array of diagnostic services and treatments:
- Neck ultrasound—This test uses sound waves to create an image of your thyroid, look for thyroid nodules or cancer, and locate parathyroid gland tumors.
- Thyroid cancer surveillance—If you have thyroid nodules or thyroid cancer, your care team will monitor you with regular blood tests, neck ultrasounds, CT scans, and a fine needle aspiration biopsy if needed. These tests check whether the nodule is growing or if the thyroid cancer has come back.
- Onsite needle biopsy service—Our fine needle aspiration (FNA) biopsies are performed under ultrasound guidance. We have championed a unique method of estimating hormones in the specimens obtained during the biopsy that improves the diagnostic accuracy. We also do genetic testing on thyroid nodule specimens if needed to determine your risk of thyroid cancer.
- Parathyroid localization—We perform a neck ultrasound, nuclear medicine sestamibi scan, or a 4D CT scan of your neck to determine which parathyroid glands are enlarged. This helps us determine our surgery plan.
- Ethanol (alcohol) ablation—This procedure treats cystic thyroid nodules or over-functioning solid thyroid nodules. Our endocrinologists will use ultrasound guidance to inject alcohol directly into the nodule or cyst. This alcohol injection reduces the size of the growth and decreases the symptoms caused by the growth.
- Radio frequency ablation (RFA)—We use radio waves to create heat and shrink the size of solid thyroid nodules. This minimally invasive procedure relieves hyperthyroid and compressive neck symptoms without affecting healthy thyroid tissue surrounding the problem area.
When to See an Endocrinologist
Schedule an appointment with your primary care provider if you experience symptoms of a thyroid or parathyroid problem. Your primary care provider will order blood tests to find the cause of your symptoms. They may treat you for your thyroid or parathyroid problem or refer you to an endocrinologist, a doctor who specializes in endocrine disorders.
Find an Endocrinology Specialist
Refer a Patient to the Thyroid & Parathyroid Clinic
You will need a provider referral to schedule an appointment at the Thyroid and Parathyroid Clinic. Referring providers may call 801-581-7761.
Hear From Our Specialists
Rethinking Thyroid Cancer Treatment
Recent advancements have certainly improved thyroid cancer outcomes, but are all treatments and surgeries essential? Jason Hunt, MD, the clinical director of neck and throat surgical oncology at Huntsman Cancer Institute and University of Utah Health, breaks down the risks of overdiagnosis and overtreatment.
Surgical Treatment for Thyroid Cancer: What to Expect Before, During, and After
If you have been diagnosed with thyroid cancer, surgery is a standard and effective treatment. Oncologist Jason Hunt, MD, FACS, provides insights into the surgery process and after. Topics include the day-of-surgery experience, procedure details, recovery timelines, and more.
All About Your Thyroid
The thyroid gland secretes thyroid hormones directly into the blood, distributing them to various tissues.
Should I Worry About Thyroid Nodules?
You’ve just been told by a primary care physician you have thyroid nodules. Nearly one-half of the U.S. population has them and most of the time they are benign. We asked endocrinologist Dr. Dev Abraham at the University of Utah Health Thyroid & Parathyroid Clinic to tell us more about thyroid nodules.
Thyroid Cancer in Women
Thyroid cancer is the most common cancer in women 15 to 30 years of age. Women's expert Dr. Kirtly Parker Jones talks about the risk factors for thyroid cancer and why thyroid cancer is one of the most curable kinds of cancers.
Is Your Thyroid Sabotaging Your Diet?
You’ve been watching what you eat, but yet a month later your weight is the same. What’s going on? We ask endocrinologist Dr. Dev Abraham from the University of Utah Health Diabetes Clinic if it could be a thyroid issue.