Endocrinology Second Opinion Program

If your child has been diagnosed with a complex endocrine disorder, you want to ensure he or she is getting the best possible treatment for their specific condition.

CHOP’s Division of Endocrinology and Diabetes consists of experienced pediatric specialists available to consult with you or your family physician on second opinion requests. Our nationally ranked specialists work with families and referring physicians from all over the country — and around the world — to confirm diagnoses and provide knowledgeable second opinions about treatment plans and follow-up care.

Some children who come to us for second opinions may end up being treated here at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, but many will return home for treatment after CHOP clinicians have confirmed the child’s diagnosis and treatment options. We work with other CHOP specialists, such as geneticists, gastroenterologists and neurologists, as needed so children can receive the best care possible no matter where in the world they live.

Why seek a second opinion for your child’s endocrine condition

Second Opinion: Rowan’s Story

Genetic testing of Rowan’s thyroid cancer identified a cancer-driving gene mutation that was targeted with a specific medication.

Families and/or their physicians may request second opinions for patients with endocrine conditions at CHOP.

Getting a second opinion can help you better understand your child’s diagnosis, resolve any lingering doubts about the path forward with treatment, and offer information about innovative therapies or clinical trials that may be available, but not known or available to your physician. A second opinion can help you build confidence in your existing physician and the proposed treatment plan, too.

Questions to ask during an endocrine second opinion consultation

The following questions can help guide your discussion with clinicians during a second-opinion appointment:

• What type of condition does my child have?
• How many children with the same condition have you or your program treated?
• What are the treatment choices for the endocrine disorder my child has?
• Which treatment do you recommend for my child and why?
• How long will treatment last for my child?
• What are the chances this treatment will be successful, and how will we know if it is?
• What are the risks of this treatment for my child — both short term and long term?
• Are there other treatment approaches available for my child? What are they?
• Are there any clinical trials my child is a candidate for? What is your experience with those trials?

How to request a second opinion at CHOP

To request a second opinion with a physician in the Division of Endocrinology and Diabetes at CHOP, please call 215-590-3174 and ask for an appointment. It’s that simple!

Information you’ll need for your consultation

To help us perform a thorough second-opinion evaluation, we need a full summary of your child's evaluation as well as treatments and studies done up to this point. It’s important for you to provide as much of the following information as possible to allow our expert team to make the best possible second-opinion recommendation for your child. Please submit these ahead of the visit so they can be entered into our electronic medical record.

Clinical information

• Your child's physician's name and contact information.
• Your child's diagnosis, or working diagnosis, and list of presenting symptoms.
• Copy of any existing treatment plan for your child.
• Parent summary. This is easiest to share through MyCHOP, CHOP’s online patient information portal. You’ll be given access when you register for a visit.
• Notes from your child's physician.
• List of medications your child is currently prescribed and currently taking — including any over-the-counter medications or supplements. Please include the medication name, dosage, frequency, prescribing doctor, pharmacy name and phone number, as well as how long your child has been using this medication.
• Complete clinical summary, including:
  • Images from X-rays or scans
  • Laboratory test results.
  • Details of any hospitalizations and discharge summaries.

Seeking more answers?

Some families that are looking for more information on their child’s diagnosis choose to use our remote consultation service.

Depending on your home state and the clinical specialty area, the online remote consultation program allows CHOP pediatric specialists to review your child’s medical records remotely and provide a detailed written consultation report that answers your specific questions based on the information provided. This differs from an in-person second opinion visit, which is also available, because your family doesn’t need to travel to Philadelphia. Instead, the service is 100% remote and digital. 

The Online Remote Consultation Program is available for families living in 23 states and covers 17 specialties.

Learn more about CHOP’s remote consultation program.