UT Southwestern has been designated a Clinical Center of Excellence by the Pheo Para Alliance for its care of patients with pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma—rare, often hereditary neuroendocrine tumors that produce excess adrenaline-like hormones. UTSW is the first designated center in North Texas and one of only 14 nationwide to receive this recognition.
Pheochromocytomas typically form in the adrenal glands, while paragangliomas develop outside them, often along nerve pathways in the head, neck, chest, or abdomen. Though usually benign, these tumors can be cancerous and spread to other parts of the body. Symptoms may include high blood pressure, headaches, sweating, and heart palpitations, which are often triggered by hormone surges.
“These tumors require expert, coordinated care to ensure timely and personalized treatment, avoid serious complications, and improve outcomes,” says Oksana Hamidi, D.O., M.S.C.S., an Associate Professor in the Division of Endocrinology, who co-leads the program with Samantha Greenberg, Ph.D., an Assistant Professor in the Department of Health Care Sciences. “This designation affirms our commitment to delivering the highest level of care to patients across the region and beyond.”
UTSW’s multidisciplinary team includes endocrinologists, genetic counselors, surgeons, oncologists, radiologists, and nuclear medicine specialists. The center offers advanced imaging and treatments, including lutetium (Lu 177) dotatate, a targeted radiotherapy for metastatic disease. Surgery is often the first line of treatment, but patients with advanced or hereditary forms may require long-term, personalized care.
“This designation ensures patients from a large geographical region have access to highly specialized care that has been approved and considered high-quality by a larger body of experts in the field,” says Perry Bickel, M.D., an Associate Professor and Division Chief of Endocrinology.
Drs. Hamidi and Greenberg, alongside the broader team, have dedicated their clinical and research efforts to achieving this designation, and remain motivated to set new benchmarks in improving patient care.
“As a center, we can make a difference in the lives of our patients and their families, because this disease can be challenging to diagnose and manage,” Dr. Greenberg says. “When we do things to comfort our patients and our families, then we are actually fulfilling UT Southwestern's mission to provide the best possible care today, with continuous improvement and innovation for better care tomorrow.”