Endocrine Oncology Program

This program specializes in providing care for a wide range of endocrine cancers and complex conditions requiring advanced diagnostic and treatment approaches including:

• Thyroid Cancers: Papillary, follicular, medullary, and anaplastic.
• Parathyroid Tumors: Benign and malignant.
• Adrenal Tumors: Adrenocortical carcinoma, pheochromocytoma, and other adrenal masses:
  • Adrenal Cancer
  • Adrenal Nodules
• Neuroendocrine Tumors (NETs): Pancreatic, gastrointestinal, and lung carcinoids.
• Hereditary Syndromes: MEN1, MEN2, familial medullary thyroid cancer, Von Hippel-Lindau, and other genetic conditions.
• Rare or Advanced Cases: Complex or metastatic endocrine cancers.

Our multidisciplinary tumor board meets once a week to discuss every patient who comes through our doors. A room full of experts - specialists in treating not only adrenal cancer but other endocrine cancers - sit together to talk through the best treatment options, including clinical trials, for each individual. Patients get the benefit of several expert opinions.

Services include:

• Multidisciplinary team with one of the most active adrenal cancer research programs in the world
• See more than 200 adrenal patients per year
• Recognition as an international center of excellence for treatment of adrenal cancer
• Availability of state-of-the-art genetic counseling
• Advanced diagnostics:
  • Diagnosis and therapy of benign and malignant adrenal tumors, pheochromocytoma, paraganglioma and neuroendocrine tumors
  • Diagnosis and therapy of hormone excess syndromes due to adrenal adenoma, adrenal cancer, pherochromocytoma, paraganglioma or neuroendocrine tumors
  • Dedicated radiology and nuclear medicine imaging
• Specialized therapies:
  • Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy for adrenal metastasis
  • Dedicated adrenal and endocrine surgeons
• Innovative care models:
  • Remote Second Opinion Program for adrenal cancer
  • Pathology Consultation
  • Therapy and surveillance of endocrine issues in cancer survivors

We offer diagnosis and treatment for those with any form of endocrine cancer.  If you have been diagnosed, or suspect you have endocrine cancer, patients, please call 734-647-8902.

Healthcare professionals, please contact our M-LINE service: 800-962-3555.  Our Endocrine Oncology Program also offers a consultation with one of our Pathology experts.  Please visit the M-Labs Consult page for more information.

Remote Second Opinion

The U-M Health's Remote Second Opinion is available to those with adrenal cancer or are suspected to have adrenal cancer. With our remote second opinion, you can obtain a medical consultation regarding your diagnosis and treatment plan by allowing our physicians to review your medical records and remotely interact with you and your local doctor. So, even if you can’t travel to Michigan for an appointment, you can still get an opinion from our medical specialists.

Requesting a Remote Second Opinion

Due to specific state laws and medical practice regulations in the following states, we are unable to provide a remote second opinion for residents in the states of California, Wyoming, North Dakota, Iowa, Louisiana, Tennessee, South Carolina, New York, and Maine. Residents in these states who wish to seek a medical opinion from the University of Michigan are encouraged to call 800-865-1125.

Everyone else, please call 734-647-8902 to request a remote second opinion.

One area of interest is stem cell research. Scientists in our program are studying primitive cells, called stem or progenitor cells, found in the outer cortex of the adrenal gland. They believe defects in these stem cells and the genes that regulate them could be the cause of adrenal cancer. Neither adrenal nor thyroid cancer stem cells have been discovered, but the Endocrine Oncology Program is searching for them.

• Preparing for Surgery

Global Organizations

• Rare Cancer Support Forum
• American Cancer Society
  • Finding and Paying for Treatment
  • Caregivers and Family
  • Finding Support Programs and Services in Your Area
• Cancer Support Community

For Patients and Advocates

• The Drew O'Donoghue Fund
• National Adrenal Diseases Foundation