Dongguk University Ilsan Medical Center
The Thyroid Center at Dongguk University Ilsan Medical Center consists of several integrated care centers including endocrinology, otolaryngology, surgery, radiology, pathology and nuclear medicine for early diagnosis and proper treatment of thyroid diseases. Thyroid diseases can be divided into thyroid dysfunctions that can be treated with drug therapy (hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism) and those that require surgical procedures or simple observation such as thyroid nodules. Thyroid dysfunctions are usually diagnosed through blood tests and treated at the department of endocrinology. Thyroid nodules refer to the lumps in the thyroid gland usually diagnosed by cytology or biopsy. Most are benign and do not require surgery but 5% are thyroid cancer and require surgery.
At Dongguk University Ilsan Medical Center Thyroid Center, ultrasound and fine needle aspiration biopsy are conducted 3 times a week for rapid diagnosis of thyroid nodules. When a diagnosis for cancer is confirmed by the tests performed at the pathology department, patients are directly referred to the department of ENT and surgery in order for surgery to be performed without delay. After the surgery, iodine therapy may be required from the department of nuclear medicine depending on the degree of progression of the thyroid cancer whereas overall patient care post-surgery will be provided at the department of endocrinology. Specifically, the center successfully performed an axillary approach endoscopic thyroidectomy (surgical procedure that does not leave a scar on the neck by removing the thyroid nodule through the armpit) in the northwestern region of Gyeonggi-do in 2007 for the first time, giving esthetically satisfying results for many female patients. As outlined above, Dongguk University Ilsan Medical Center Thyroid Center is creating a treatment system that provides integrated medical care from the patient's diagnosis to post-surgery care by providing an optimal environment where relevant departments with a common treatment plan can closely cooperate to treat thyroid diseases.
