Medical Conditions

The evaluation of masses of the head and neck area begins with a through office examination including fiberoptic endoscopic examination, photo-documentation and other advanced imaging techniques. The management of benign and malignant tumors of the head and neck covers a wide spectrum of treatment modalities including laser and reconstructive surgery. Our group offers medical and surgical therapy for thyroid disorders. We are specialized in skinny needle biopsy for the diagnosis of thyroid lumps and neck nodes. Physicians of the Head & Neck Surgical Group work together as a team to provide the best functional and cosmetic results following treatment for head and neck cancer including craniofacial surgery. Complete rehabilitative services are also offered. 

Here are the members of Head & Neck Surgical Group who specialize in the head and neck surgery:

Any further questions, please e-mail to one of the doctors listed above, or call (212) 262-4444, (1-800) NY-NYENT.

Thyroid Disorders

Although thyroid cancer affects as many people as multiple myeloma, cancer of the cervix, esophagus, throat, larynx and liver, a recent survey showed that nearly 60 % of Americans perceive thyroid cancer to be rare. Thyroid nodules are common and can be seen in up to 50% of the older adult population. There is a 5-10 % lifetime risk of developing a nodule that is detectable on physical examination. There is no pattern to those afflicted-no age, gender, economic group or race is immune to thyroid disease. Although women are more likely to develop a thyroid nodule, thyroid nodules in men are more likely to contain cancer under the age of 40. Overall, women are three times more likely to develop thyroid cancer than men.

The cause of thyroid cancer is unknown for the vast majority of patients. However, for patients exposed to radiation, the incidence of both benign thyroid nodules and thyroid cancer is much higher than in the general population. Radiation treatment for various conditions of the head & neck during childhood was at one time commonly performed and is considered a specific risk factor for thyroid cancer. Experience from the radiation disaster in Chernobyl clearly implicates exposure to radioactive fallout as a risk factor for thyroid cancer. People living near nuclear reactors should be screened on a yearly basis for thyroid cancer. A rare form of thyroid cancer runs in families and the risk can be detected through simple blood tests.

Thyroid tumors or nodules are one of the most common types of neck masses that Dr. Kuriloff treats. Thyroid cancer often goes undetected since there are usually no symptoms and nodules can easily be missed on a routine physical examination. Nodular thyroid disease affects as many as 30 million Americans, yet only 250,000 nodules are detected each year. This is remarkable since 6-10 % of all thyroid nodules are typically cancerous, suggesting that there may be as many as three million cases of undetected thyroid cancer in the United States. Currently over 15,000 new cases of thyroid cancer are treated each year. If left untreated, thyroid cancer can invade local structures in the neck causing vocal cord paralysis or may spread throughout the body. The good news is that when detected and treated in its early stages, thyroid cancer has an excellent prognosis for cure and long-term survival with most patients having a normal life expectancy. There are approximately 500,000 survivors of thyroid cancer in the United States.

Just like breast cancer, the patient, not the doctor is more likely to detect a lump if periodic self-examinations are performed. A simple five minute self-examination may save your life! All that is required is a glass of water and a mirror. If a lump is detected, the single best test to evaluate the presence of cancer is a skinny needle biopsy. A brochure containing the details of the thyroid self-examination and the skinny needle biopsy can be obtained from Dr. Kuriloff by calling 212-262-5555. E-mail messages may be sent to Dkuriloff@aol.com.

Skinny Needle Biopsy

Skinny needle aspiration biopsy is a simple, painless office procedure that has revolutionized the diagnosis of swellings or lumps in the neck. However, performing the procedure requires training, skill and practice as the diagnosis can be missed if the wrong area or amount of tissue is sampled. With his huge experience, Dr. Daniel Kuriloff has perfected this technique. The use of skinny needle aspiration biopsy often eliminates the need for more invasive open surgical procedures in the hospital, along with the potential for bleeding, infection and unsightly scars. More importantly, using this technique can prevent the spread of cancer and allow the earliest possible treatment while the cancer is still in its most curable stage. In Dr. Kuriloff's hands, skinny needle biopsy will correctly diagnose 90% of all neck masses. It takes only a few minutes, with virtually no adverse effects. One can resume normal activities immediately following the procedure. An accurate diagnosis is made at Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center by an equally experienced pathologist on Dr. Kuriloff's team, and results are available within 1 business day.

The vast majority of neck lumps are painless and often have no associated symptoms, yet potentially represent a life-threatening cancer or infection. Some neck masses, on the other hand, are benign cysts that may require no further treatment other than the needle aspiration procedure itself. Some may represent benign tumors or inflamed lymph nodes which may need no further treatment other than periodic examination for signs of increased growth. Dr. Kuriloff's ability to rapidly diagnose the specific nature of a neck lump in the office will expedite proper treatment and in the majority of cases, eliminate the concern of cancer. A brochure containing the details of the skinny needle biopsy can be obtained from Dr. Kuriloff by calling 212-262-5555. E-mail messages may be sent to DKuriloff@aol.com.