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is deployed to manage hyperthyroidism and eliminate residual tumor cells fol- lowing surgical excision. "Radioactive iodine is particularly effective in the treatment of thyroid cancer because the gland preferentially absorbs the iodine," Dr. Port says. "That means we only deliver radiation to the tissue that needs it. Many other treatments are absorbed by the entire body, but because the iodine only goes to the thyroid gland, we can hone in on the ta rget a nd destroy only the target tissue." "We know that nodules between 1.5 and 2 cm can spread," Dr. Datta says. "After we perform surger y on those patients, we conduct a full body scan to make sure no cancer has spread beyond the neck. The majority of the time, the scan shows nothing, but sometimes there is limited activity in the neck. Usually, this isn't cancer, but leftover thyroid cells from the margins where we save the parathyroid glands and recurrent laryngeal nerve. When we see this, Dr. Silfen gives higher doses of radioactive iodine ablation." Dr. Lomasky adds that radioactive iodine ablation can be effective in treat- ing even the most aggressive thyroid cancer, although all types — anaplastic, follicular, papillary and medullary — are unique. "Papilla r y a nd follicula r thy roid cancers are much less common, which is fortunate because they're aggres- sive neoplasms," he says. "Each patient presents different circumstances, so there can be different guidelines, but for many high-risk thyroid cancers, radioactive iodine ablation can prevent local recurrence and distant spread. We're glad to have a knowledgeable staff capable of providing a broad spectrum of treatments, from sur veillance to radioactive iodine ablation." Although radioactive iodine ablation's efficacy has been proven, Dr. Silfen carefully explains the intricacies to patients before treatment. "While the scan to find residual can- cer cells is straightforward, ablation can be tricky," Dr. Datta says. "Dr. Silfen, an expert at this treatment, sits with patients a nd instr ucts them about the accompa ny ing iodine-free diet they must follow, as well as common restrictions that come with radiation therapies, such as separating laun- dr y, reducing exposure to the sun and keeping a careful distance from people — especially children — for 48 hours." Partnership with Community Providers As imaging technology continues to provide higher quality scans, inciden- tal detection of thyroid nodules will increase. South Nassau Communities Hospit a l 's T hy roid Center br i ng s advanced thyroid management and treatment to a local setting, where referring providers are involved in the process. "We provide a fully collaborative center that features all available state-of- the-art technology," Dr. Lomasky says. "The evolving nature of thyroid-related disease can be daunting, but now there is no need to leave Long Island to find excellent care for the entire thyroid disease spectrum." For more information about the Thyroid Center, visit www.southnassau.org. ■ Dr. Lomasky, Chair, Diabetes and Endocrine Disease Management Committee at South Nassau COV ER FE AT UR E South Nassau's Gertrude & Louis Feil Cancer Center team: (front, L–R) Estee Farrell, Diane Katz, Lori Depass, Angelica Diaz, Veronica Ford, Alejandra Mora, Lily Gutierrez, (rear, L–R) Marc A. Hayes, MD; Rajiv Datta, MD; Eric Seitelman, MD 1 0 | Long Island MD NEWS ■ M D N E W S . CO M