Professor Naftali SternEndocrinologist
Over the past decade, Israeli specialists have made significant breakthroughs in the treatment of endocrine system diseases. As a result, many patients today successfully overcome even those conditions that were previously difficult to treat or considered incurable. The doctors at the Top Ihilov Medical Center have made an invaluable contribution to the development of modern endocrinology.
They have developed a range of innovative protocols for the treatment of diabetes, thyroid dysfunctions, and a wide spectrum of other endocrine diseases, allowing patients to return to a healthy and fulfilling life in the shortest possible time. Additionally, Israeli doctors are highly skilled in performing minimally invasive surgeries to remove tumours of the endocrine glands. By combining advanced non-surgical and surgical techniques, Israeli endocrinologists achieve complete recovery or sustained long-term remission in most cases.
The specialists at the clinic provide highly effective treatment for all known endocrine system diseases today. Primarily, these include:
- thyroid gland pathologies (thyroiditis, hypo- and hyperthyroidism, adenoma, nodular goiter, malignant tumours);
- pituitary adenoma;
- diabetes mellitus;
- Cushing's syndrome;
- diabetes insipidus;
- prolactinoma;
- polycystic ovary syndrome;
- acromegaly;
- adrenal insufficiency;
- neuroendocrine tumours;
- glucagonoma;
- VIPoma;
- insulinoma;
- metabolic syndrome;
- obesity and other diseases.
Patients often turn to Top Ihilov who were unable to receive qualified medical assistance in their own countries and were literally left alone with their illness. For the doctors at our clinic, there are no hopeless situations – they are always able to find effective ways to alleviate painful symptoms and significantly improve the quality of life.
Modern Treatment Methods for Endocrine Diseases
In general, most endocrine system pathologies (except for oncological ones) are treated using two main methods. These are medication therapy and surgical interventions. As auxiliary methods, physiotherapy, diet therapy, and balneotherapy are sometimes used.
Specific procedures for each individual are always selected based on the nature of the pathology, the stage of its progression, the presence of comorbidities, and a number of other factors. For example, in cases of hypothyroidism, patients are prescribed synthetic analogues of thyroid-stimulating hormone; in adrenal insufficiency – corticosteroids and hormone replacement therapy; in diabetes mellitus – insulin injections, etc. All medications used at Top Ihilov are of the new generation. They have a high degree of efficacy, virtually no side effects, and many of them have no analogues in the CIS countries.
Particular attention should be paid to the following methods used to treat the endocrine system in Israeli clinics:
- Radioiodine Therapy. An innovative procedure successfully practiced for nodular goiter, thyrotoxicosis, and thyroid cancer. Radioactive iodine, which the patient takes orally in capsule form, is selectively absorbed by the thyroid tissue and helps destroy the atypical cells present in it. For other organs, it is completely harmless, making radioiodine therapy not only an effective but also a safe method for treating thyroid pathologies.
- Targeted Therapy. Advanced treatment for malignant tumours of the endocrine system, allowing for the precise destruction of cancer cells without any toxic effects on the body. Targeted drugs can effectively block the growth of neoplasms and significantly reduce their size, resulting in patients having a better chance of healing from cancer.
- Insulin Pump. The common method for treating diabetes mellitus in most hospitals in the post-Soviet space is daily insulin injections. In Israel, patients are offered a more convenient alternative to such injections – the installation of an insulin pump. This small device, implanted in the abdominal area, systematically measures blood glucose levels and automatically injects the necessary dose of insulin when needed. This significantly eases the lives of diabetes patients, especially children, and prevents episodes of hypo- and hyperglycemia.
- Minimally Invasive Surgery. At Top Ihilov, surgeries on the endocrine glands are primarily performed using endoscopic and laparoscopic access, with minimal damage to healthy tissues and minimal blood loss. Reviews of endocrine system treatment in Israel indicate that thanks to this approach, patients not only successfully eliminate their troubling pathologies but also recover very quickly – the postoperative rehabilitation period in most cases does not exceed 3-5 days. Among the innovative interventions performed by Israeli surgeons are transnasal removal of pituitary adenoma, robotic thyroidectomy, adrenalectomy, biliopancreatic diversion, and pancreaticoduodenectomy.
Diagnosis of the Endocrine System in Israel
Undergoing examination at the Top Ihilov clinic takes only 3-4 days. First, the patient is referred for a consultation with the leading specialist in the department: the doctor studies the medical history, conducts a physical examination, clarifies complaints, and then develops a program for further diagnosis. This may include the following procedures:
- Comprehensive blood tests.
- Urine tests.
- Glucose tolerance test.
- Ultrasound.
- CT, MRI, PET-CT.
- Biopsy.
- Scintigraphy.
- X-ray and others.
In addition to the attending physician, other specialized experts also analyze the diagnostic results. This approach ensures not only a comprehensive consideration of the problem but also the accuracy of the conclusions made by the clinic's doctors.
If a patient cannot come to Israel for examination, the doctors at Top Ihilov offer an alternative option – a video consultation via Skype. This way, one can communicate with a specialist of expert level and get answers to all questions regarding the diagnosis and the most suitable therapy methods without leaving home.
How Much Does Treatment of the Endocrine System Cost in Israel
Every year, thousands of patients from abroad come to Israeli clinics, including from countries with highly developed medicine. The reason is quite simple – the cost of treating the endocrine system in Israel, with absolutely similar quality of service, is approximately 25-45% lower than in the USA, the UK, or even Germany. As for exact prices, they can be learned only after consulting with the attending physician – since each clinical case is individual, the exact list of necessary procedures is provided by the clinic specialists only after reviewing the medical history.
Advantages of Treatment at Top Ihilov
- Highly qualified doctors with unique clinical experience.
- Rapid diagnosis with 100% accurate results.
- Personalized approach to treatment.
- A wide range of highly effective therapy methods: from the latest generation medications to innovative minimally invasive surgeries.
- Affordability: the cost of treating the endocrine system in Israel is much lower than in the United States or Western European countries.
- First-class service: patients at the clinic are provided with comfortable living conditions, as well as support from a personal curator-translator.
To receive an individual consultation from an Israeli doctor, simply fill out the application form on the website. A representative of the clinic will contact you shortly.