Pediatric Thyroid Center at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Performs 1000th Thyroid Surgery

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May 20, 2025, 10:05 ET

Since opening in 2010, the Center has become a leading destination for pediatric patients with thyroid nodules, thyroid cancer, Graves' disease, and genetic syndromes impacting the thyroid gland

PHILADELPHIA, May 20, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) reached a significant milestone — performing its 1,000^th pediatric thyroid surgery in February. The Pediatric Thyroid Center at CHOP, which treats children and teens with thyroid disease, thyroid nodules, thyroid cancer, and other endocrine related disorders, is one of the busiest and most advanced U.S. centers of its kind.

Members of CHOP's pediatric thyroid team and Caitlin Skavinsky, the 1,000th thyroid surgery patient

N. Scott Adzick MD, Surgeon-in-Chief at CHOP, along with his team, performed the three-hour procedure, a total thyroidectomy, on Caitlin Skavinsky, aged 19. The Pennsburg, PA-based teenager was diagnosed at age 12 with Graves' disease, an autoimmune disorder that causes hyperthyroidism. In a total thyroidectomy, surgeons remove nearly the entire thyroid gland. Skavinsky will remain on thyroid replacement therapy for the rest of her life.

"Our highly skilled team now performs 60-70 surgeries each year while also providing comprehensive evaluation and ongoing care for hundreds of patients," said Dr. Adzick. "Achieving this milestone highlights the team's vast expertise and the trust families place in us to deliver the highest level of care, which is something we never take for granted. We are proud of achieving 1,000 surgeries and are ready for the next thousand."

Since opening in 2010, the Center has become a leading destination for pediatric patients with thyroid nodules, thyroid cancer, Graves' disease, and genetic syndromes impacting the thyroid gland offering highly specialized, multidisciplinary thyroid care tailored specifically for children and adolescents. Unlike general endocrine programs, the Center's team is uniquely trained in the nuances of how thyroid conditions present and progress in younger patients. They work closely with pediatric subspecialists to provide comprehensive, age-appropriate care.

Clinicians in the CHOP Thyroid Center routinely use bedside ultrasound during outpatient appointments – an advanced, non-invasive tool that avoids radiation and enables rapid evaluation, treatment guidance and real-time monitoring. With this approach, patients are diagnosed and counseled during their outpatient appointment. For patients with thyroid nodules, a stratified approach is used to select patients for fine needle aspiration with a less than 2% unsatisfactory sample rate and a greater than 50% malignancy rate in more than 720 patients that have undergone FNA over the last 14 years.

Surgical outcomes are equally distinguished. Thanks to meticulous preoperative planning and precision techniques, most patients require only one surgery. Each procedure is highly individualized, ensuring maximum accuracy and effectiveness while minimizing the need for additional interventions.

"Research shows that post-operative success rate of pediatric thyroid patients, particularly children who require a thyroidectomy, correlate with an institutions' patient volume," said Andrew Bauer, MD, a pediatric endocrinologist and medical director of CHOP's Pediatric Thyroid Center. "Having a team with extensive experience makes a major difference in the outcome and lives of our patients and their families."

Ongoing projects at the Center leverage innovation and technology with the goal of accelerating advancements in thyroid treatment. Examples include using AI with ultrasound to identify thyroid nodules with an elevated risk for metastasis, non-surgical options for treatment of thyroid nodules, scarless thyroid surgery, and evaluating targeted chemotherapies designed to block cancer-causing genes in patients whose thyroid cancer has metastasized to the lungs and other distant locations.

Meanwhile, for Skavinsky, the future looks bright. She is excited about pursuing a degree in forensic psychology and enjoying life at Montgomery County Community College.

"This surgery has been lifechanging for me," said Skavinsky. "It has given me the confidence and freedom to live my best life."

About Children's Hospital of Philadelphia:
A non-profit, charitable organization, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia was founded in 1855 as the nation's first pediatric hospital. Through its long-standing commitment to providing exceptional patient care, training new generations of pediatric healthcare professionals, and pioneering major research initiatives, the hospital has fostered many discoveries that have benefited children worldwide. Its pediatric research program is among the largest in the country. The institution has a well-established history of providing advanced pediatric care close to home through its CHOP Care Network, which includes more than 50 primary care practices, specialty care and surgical centers, urgent care centers, and community hospital alliances throughout Pennsylvania and New Jersey. CHOP also operates the Middleman Family Pavilion and its dedicated pediatric emergency department in King of Prussia, the Behavioral Health and Crisis Center (including a 24/7 Crisis Response Center) and the Center for Advanced Behavioral Healthcare, a mental health outpatient facility. Its unique family-centered care and public service programs have brought Children's Hospital of Philadelphia recognition as a leading advocate for children and adolescents. For more information, visit https://www.chop.edu .