Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism

Finding the right treatment for your thyroid disorder

Whether you have hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, thyroid cancer or a related condition, the Thyroid Disease Clinic at Tufts Medical Center provides comprehensive services to accurately diagnose your disease and find the right treatment.

As part of a major teaching hospital, we provide the most advanced diagnostic and treatment options available, but the clinic provides a personalized setting where staff and doctors take the time to get to know you and make sure you are comfortable.

The clinic is built on a legacy of thyroid disease breakthroughs dating back to the 1940s, when Edwin B. Astwood, MD, became the first chief of the division. A number of advances were made under his tenure, including the introduction of anti-thyroid drugs for the treatment of hyperthyroidism and the use of thyroid hormone therapy to treat benign and malignant thyroid nodules. We remain committed to the goal of continually improving care.

Meet Clinic Director - Jacqueline Kung, MD

The clinic is led by Jacqueline Kung, MD., an endocrinologist who specializes in thyroid disease and holds the Endocrine Certification in Neck Ultrasound. Dr. Kung also oversees the Thyroid Ultrasound and Fine Needle Aspiration Clinic, and sees many of the same patients in both. This comprehensive approach allows her to be involved with all aspects of her patients’ care.

Making an accurate diagnosis to find the right treatment

The key to finding the right treatment for your thyroid condition is understanding what is causing the problem. At the clinic, your doctor has the most advanced tools to determine what is affecting your health.

In addition to testing specifically for a thyroid disease, we are able to test for a range of hormone related disorders that can cause thyroid problems. With numerous tests available, you can be assured that your doctor will be able to make an accurate diagnosis.

If you have a nodule, or lump in your thyroid, you will be referred to the Thyroid Ultrasound and Fine Needle Aspiration Clinic for ultrasound guided fine needle biopsy. This quick procedure was developed as an alternative to surgery and is non-invasive. After a Fine Needle Aspiration, Dr. Kung and a pathologist who specializes in endocrine tumors examine the sample. The most advanced molecular diagnostic techniques are available, including the Afirma gene expression classifier and testing for BRAF and RAS gene mutations and RET/PTC and PAX8/PPAR gamma rearrangements.

No matter the outcome of the biopsy, our doctors will be there with you every step of the way to ensure that you get the most advanced care available.

What treatment will I need?

The services provided at the Thyroid Disease Clinic at Tufts MC include clinical evaluations, imaging and biopsies, as well as careful management of thyroid disease. Because these diseases are generally life-long conditions, we provide the guidance you need to live a healthy, normal life.

When thyroid disease is caught early, treatment can control the disorder even before the onset of symptoms. In most cases, both hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism can be treated with medication. Other treatments for thyroid disease include radioactive iodine therapy which is used to treat hyperthyroidism or thyroid cancer.

If you have thyroid cancer, your doctor will coordinate your care with a team of specialists, including those from surgery, oncology, radiology, pathology and nuclear medicine. Working together, this team will develop an individualized care plan based on the type of thyroid cancer you’ve been diagnosed with, how advanced it is and your overall health.

As part of a major academic medical center in Boston, we offer some of the most advanced treatments, including minimally invasive surgery and radioactive iodine therapy, which destroys any remaining cancerous tissue.