About our pediatric thyroid cancer clinic

A thyroid cancer diagnosis can be a scary – but with the right care, most children respond very well to treatment. Expert, compassionate care is available right here in Richmond. 

We're proud members of the Child and Adolescent Thyroid Consortium, joining pediatric thyroid centers across the US to improve the care for children and adolescents with thyroid disease, including thyroid hormone resistance syndromes, autoimmune thyroid disease, thyroid nodules and thyroid cancer.  

Why choose CHoR for thyroid cancer care?

Thyroid cancer is the second most common cancer in adolescent females. Getting an accurate diagnosis and the most effective treatment from the very beginning is critical.

• We are the only pediatric thyroid cancer clinic in Central Virginia.
• We understand that when a child has cancer, clinical expertise is important – but so is compassionate care for the whole family.
• Our multidisciplinary team of experts is trained in caring for children adolescents.
• We collaborate with VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center, an NCI designated cancer center that offers cancer expertise and experience only found at the top four percent of cancer centers across the country.
• Surgery is the primary means of treating thyroid cancer. Our high-volume surgeon, Dr. Grover, performs more than 20 pediatric thyroid cancer surgeries and 200 adult neck and tumor surgeries a year.
• Families have access to emotional, financial and other support from ASK Childhood Cancer Foundation. You’re never on the journey alone.
• We provide access to all pediatric subspecialists as needed.
• Our team also uses a regular tumor board approach, bringing specialists together to collaborate on the best care plan for each individual child.
• We work in close partnership with VCU Health to ensure teens have a smooth transition of care as they become adults.

Diagnosing thyroid cancer

Thyroid cancer is usually detected first as a lump in the neck (thyroid nodule) and then confirmed through imaging and biopsy. Because the thyroid produces hormones important in growth and metabolism, it’s particularly important for kids with thyroid cancer to get care from experts who specialize in treating their bodies that are still developing.

We can diagnose thyroid cancer by:

• Conducting a comprehensive history and physical exam
• Screening for syndromes that can be connected to thyroid cancer
• Using diagnostic imaging, such as ultrasounds, CT scans and more, to find the suspicious area or learn how far cancer has spread
• Confirming the diagnosis by fine-needle aspiration biopsy

If your child is experiencing signs or symptoms that worry you, call (804) 828-CHOR, or request an appointment online.

What to expect during treatment after surgery

Once your child has been diagnosed, they will be seen for a consultation at the Children’s Pavilion, where our team will review the diagnosis, answer your questions and discuss treatment options.

Your child may need Radioactive iodine (RAI), also called I-131, collects mainly in thyroid cells, where the radiation can destroy the thyroid gland and any other cancer cells that take up iodine, with little effect on the rest of your child’s body.

After thyroidectomy, your child will no longer be able to make thyroid hormone on their own. Therefore, your child will need to take a once daily pill to replace the thyroid hormone.

Care for life

Thyroid cancer requires careful monitoring throughout a patient’s life. This is why patients are seen at the thyroid cancer clinic frequently and we work closely with the VCU Health endocrinology team to transition teens into adult care when the time is right.

Our multispecialty clinic at the Children’s Pavilion is held four times a year on the third Monday of the month in March, June, August and December. It is purposefully geared around a time when kids are out of school.