Surgery for thyroid, parathyroid, and adrenal disease and neuroendocrine tumors at Rush University Medical Center.
Dr. Theodoros Michelakos is an Assistant Professor of Surgery in the Division of Surgical Oncology at Rush Medical College, specializing in surgery of the thyroid, parathyroid, and adrenal glands, and in neuroendocrine tumors of the gastrointestinal tract and pancreas. He earned his MD from the University of Athens, graduating magna cum laude and first in his class, completed his general surgery residency at Massachusetts General Hospital / Harvard Medical School, and trained in endocrine and neuroendocrine surgery at the University of Chicago. He is certified by the American Board of Surgery.
His research focuses on cancer immunology and new technologies in medicine, with over 45 peer-reviewed papers in journals including Annals of Surgery, JAMA Oncology, and Clinical Cancer Research. He serves on several editorial boards and has received Resident Teaching Awards from Harvard Medical School and Tufts Medical School.
Most nodules are benign. Ultrasound and biopsy determine which need surgery — and the least invasive approach when they do.
Surgery for papillary, follicular, medullary, and anaplastic cancers, individualized from lobectomy to total thyroidectomy with neck dissection.
For patients who have not responded to medication or radioactive iodine — or who want a definitive option — total thyroidectomy offers a durable cure.
Hyperparathyroidism raises calcium and affects bones, kidneys, and energy. Minimally invasive parathyroidectomy is curative in the vast majority of cases.
Functional and non-functional tumors — including Cushing's, Conn's, and pheochromocytoma — removed robotically with the da Vinci 5 system, with rapid recovery.
Hormone-producing tumors, most commonly of the GI tract and pancreas. Surgical management from resection to debulking for metastatic disease.
Not every thyroid nodule requires surgery. For select benign nodules, image-guided ablation is an outpatient alternative that leaves no scar and requires no general anesthesia.
A thin electrode is guided into the nodule under real-time ultrasound. Radiofrequency energy destroys nodule tissue from within; the nodule shrinks over several months while the surrounding thyroid is preserved.
Request a consultation →Cystic nodules usually recur after simple aspiration. Ultrasound-guided ethanol scleroses the cyst wall and prevents re-accumulation — often in a single session.
Request a consultation →How to prepare, what happens on the day, and what to expect while you recover from thyroid, parathyroid, or adrenal surgery.
A guided exercise program for patients preparing for neck surgery, developed with Rush Occupational Therapy. Eleven illustrated exercises, about 15 minutes, done at home at your own pace.
See your thyroid, parathyroid glands, and the surrounding structures on a live image of your own neck.
Camera-based games that get your neck moving, before surgery and from 2 days after.
Research in endocrine surgery, surgical oncology, and cancer immunology, published in journals including Annals of Surgery, JAMA Oncology, Clinical Cancer Research, Surgery, and Thyroid.
Dr. Michelakos welcomes inquiries from researchers, clinicians, and industry partners. Get in touch.
Dr. Michelakos mentors residents and students interested in endocrine surgery, surgical research, and academic careers. Research opportunities are available — reach out directly.
Calculators and references for thyroid and adrenal disease.
Open →OR preferences and patient care protocols for the service. Password protected.
Open →Guidelines, tables, and key references in endocrine surgery.
Open →Surgle, Whack-a-Nodule, and other games for the gaps in the OR schedule.
Open →To schedule a new patient appointment or for referrals and general inquiries, contact Dr. Michelakos's office directly or book through Rush's online portal.
Dr. Michelakos is always available for patients with thyroid, parathyroid, adrenal, or neuroendocrine conditions. He offers in-clinic thyroid ultrasound and FNA with reflex molecular testing, typically in a single visit. He prioritizes prompt scheduling across RUMC Main Campus, Rush Lisle, and Rush Oak Lawn. Please call (312) 942-5500 or email [email protected] to coordinate a timely consultation.