Endocrine System Cancers

It’s important to get the correct diagnosis for endocrine system cancer as quickly as possible, so that you can receive specialized and coordinated care right away. The approach to making a diagnosis will depend on the types of signs and symptoms you have. We use the latest tools and techniques to explore what is going on. For thyroid cancer, for example, we typically make a diagnosis using fine needle aspiration or a combination of this technique and surgery.

Genetic testing is an additional option you might want to consider if you have a family history of neuroendocrine and other endocrine system cancers. While most neuroendocrine tumors appear by chance for unknown reasons, there are inherited syndromes such as von Hippel-Lindau syndrome and neurofibromasosis syndromes. Talk to your doctor about whether they recommend genetic testing for you. Montefiore Einstein Comprehensive Cancer Center offers genetic testing staffed by genetic counselors and others who can help you decide whether testing is a good idea.

At Montefiore Einstein Comprehensive Cancer Center, you will have access to pioneering specialists on your care team. We use a comprehensive approach to care designed to give you the best outcome and quality of life possible. The specialists on your team collaborate closely with each other—and with you—to create a unique treatment plan focused on you.

We offer advanced, groundbreaking treatments and a full range of minimally invasive procedures. Depending on your diagnosis and needs, we can offer treatments such as:

• Surgery, including robotic and minimally invasive surgery when appropriate, such as:
  • Laparoscopic removal of the adrenal gland
  • Liver transplant for metastatic neuroendocrine tumors in the pancreas
  • Minimally invasive procedures to remove functional and nonfunctional pancreatic tumors 
• Radiofrequency ablation is a non-surgical and minimally invasive treatment option for reducing the volume of thyroid nodules with radio waves that interfere with the nodule’s cells, causing them to shrink and get absorbed back into the body. It’s typically done by a surgeon using ultrasound imaging to guide and target the treatment area. 
• Radiation, including Radioactive iodine treatment—a specific form of iodine that destroys thyroid tissue and is used to treat microscopic thyroid cancer that cannot be seen at the time of surgery. It is also used to treat thyroid cancer that may have spread outside of the thyroid gland to other parts of the body.
• Chemotherapy 
• Genetic counseling
• Hormonal medicine to treat symptoms caused by too much or too few hormones. If the thyroid gland is removed to treat thyroid cancer, for example, replacement in the form of oral thyroid hormone will be needed. 
• Regional therapy to deliver treatment specifically to the cancer-affected area, rather than to the body as a whole.

At Montefiore Einstein Comprehensive Cancer Center, we’re focused on the prevention, early diagnosis and treatment of cancer. You can place your trust in our multidisciplinary team of world-renowned experts. Our full-service Cancer Center offers a comprehensive range of traditional and holistic care—from screening and diagnosis through survivorship. This includes care navigation, mental health and wellness services and other supportive programs, like financial counseling and rehabilitation.

Benefit from highly specialized, coordinated and compassionate care focused on the whole person. We’re here to address your complex medical needs and improve your quality of life.

Endocrine system tumors often start in cells that make hormones. This means the tumor itself can also produce hormones. Changes to the body’s normal hormone levels can cause serious symptoms. There are several types of endocrine system cancers, including:

• Adenoma: These adrenal tumors do not produce hormones. Doctors can monitor benign (noncancerous) adenomas with imaging studies.
• Adrenal tumors: These tumors form on the small glands that sit on the kidneys. They can be benign or cancerous. Some tumors make hormones, and some do not.
• Adrenocortical carcinoma: This cancer forms in the adrenal gland and often produces the hormone cortisol. Adrenocortical carcinoma often spreads to the liver, lungs, brain or bones. High levels of cortisol may cause Cushing’s syndrome.
• Aldosteronoma: This adrenal gland tumor makes the hormone aldosterone, which regulates blood pressure. This can cause serious fluctuations in your blood pressure.
• Carcinoid tumors: These rare tumors make the hormone serotonin. They can form anywhere in the body, including the intestines, lungs, stomach and pancreas.
• Cortisol-producing adenoma: A tumor forms in the adrenal gland and produces the steroid hormone cortisol. Too much of this hormone can cause Cushing’s syndrome.
• Familial neuroendocrine syndromes: Genetic mutations can cause these conditions to pass down through families. The most common syndromes are:
  • Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Type I (MENI) carries an increased risk for hyperparathyroidism, and pancreatic neuroendocrine and pituitary tumors.
  • Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Type II (MENII) impacts the RET proto-oncogene. Type A mutations can lead to medullary thyroid cancer, hyperparathyroidism and pheochromocytoma. Type B mutations can cause medullary thyroid cancer at a young age. It can also cause mucosal neuromas of the lips, tongue and eyelids and pheochromocytoma.
• Neuroendocrine tumors: Neuroendocrine tumors occur throughout the body, including the brain, intestines, lungs, neck and pancreas. They excrete hormones into the bloodstream.
• Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors: Most of these cancers form in pancreas cells that make digestive enzymes. They are called adenocarcinomas. Only about 5 percent of pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors start in cells that make hormones.
• Pheochromocytoma: These tumors form in the adrenal gland. They produce epinephrine (adrenaline) or norepinephrine, which regulate the body’s response to stress.
• Thyroid cancers: The most common form of endocrine cancer forms in the thyroid gland. Thyroid cancer occurs more often in women and can present at any age. With the right treatment, thyroid cancer is very treatable.
• Thyroid disorders: The thyroid gland produces too much or too little of the hormones that regulate metabolism.
• Von Hippel-Lindau Disease may develop central nervous system hemangioblastomas, kidney tumors, pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors, pheochromocytomas and retinal tumors.