Dr. Pribitkin is also an expert thyroid and parathyroid surgeon. He is pleased to be a founding member and co-director of the Jefferson Thyroid and Parathyroid Center. The first dedicated center of its kind in the Delaware Valley, this group of physicians offers patients a unique multidisciplinary approach to the treatment of thyroid and parathyroid disorders, along with faster service than has traditionally been available. The group’s other co-directors are Jeffrey L. Miller, who is also the Director of Clinical Endocrinology at Jefferson and John Kairys, who is one of Jefferson’s talented general surgeons.


Jefferson's multidisciplinary approach can greatly benefit the 5 to 6 percent of females and 2 percent of males in the general population who have growths on their thyroids. Treatment of suspicious thyroid growths usually requires the patient to see several different physicians individually and wait days or weeks before they have all the information they need. At Jefferson, Dr. Miller heads a team consisting of thyroid surgeons, nuclear medicine specialists, cytologists, radiologists and researchers who can often streamline this process to just one office visit. In that visit, patients first meet with an endocrinologist who reviews their individual cases and possibly suggests further tests and/or needle biopsies. Once the tests have been conducted and the results received, the multidisciplinary team meets to discuss diagnoses and treatment strategies. By the end of the day, patients learn all their treatment options, including surgery. The usual anxiety created by an extended diagnostic period is reduced, and the patient has a head start on treatment.

MIVAT
Minimally Invasive Video-Assisted Thyroid Surgery
Jefferson's Department of Otolaryngology is the first center in Philadelphia to offer minimally invasive video-assisted thyroid surgery to its patients. MIVAT surgery uses endoscopic technology and a harmonic scalpel to limit the size of a thyroid incisions to 3-4 cm (about 1.5 inches). Patients undergoing MIVAT surgery can often be discharged to home the same day as their surgery with no drains and with decreased postoperative discomfort. On June 26, 2006, Jefferson Otolaryngology became the first academic center to host a course in Philadelphia teaching this technique. Dr Edmund Pribitkin and Dr. David Rosen served as course directors and the guest of honor was Dr. David Terris, who has pioneered MIVAT surgery in the United States. Naturally, patients with tumors such as those seen below must undergo more extensive surgery, however, approximately 25% of patients undergoing thyroidectomy may be candidates for the MIVAT procedure.



Dr. Pribitkin Moderates National Panel on Thyroid Cancer Treatment
Dr. Pribitkin organized and moderated a miniseminar on Controversies in Recurrent & Persistent Papillary Thyroid CA at the 2009 Annual Meeting of the Academy of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery. You may view the actual Webcast of this miniseminar by clicking on this link

http://app2.capitalreach.com/esp1204/servlet/tc?cn=aaohns&c=10175&s=20425&e=12240&&br=80&audio=false

Thomas Jefferson University and Kimmel Cancer Center Host Leading Regional Thyroid Cancer Symposium
Dr. Pribitkin and Dr. Jeffrey Miller co-chaired the second bi-ennial Jefferson Symposium on Thyroid Cancer on October 30, 2009. Over 150 surgeons, endocrinologists and health care professionals attended this regional symposium, which featured nationally renown speakers R, Michael Tuttle, Ashok Shaha, David Stewart, Ernie Mazzaferri and Ian Hay. The meeting offered spirited debates regarding the new American Thyroid Association Guidelines for the Treatment of Thyroid Cancer and invited extensive audience participation in a unique panel format. Standing room only was available for the event which attracted participants from across the Eastern United States, solidifying Jefferson’s reputation as a thought leader in the treatment of Thyroid Cancer.


Please click on the link below to learn more about our thyroid and parathyroid programs:






Thyroid center article