A very knowledgeable and highly respected surgeon. He explained all procedures before surgery and also good follow up care. Listened to my concerns,answered all questions and never seemed rushed. He has a lot of experience and that's important when you are having delicate parathyroid and thyroid surgery. I travelled from another state to see him and was worth the commute. A kind and highly skilled Dr. I would refer family and friends to his care with confidence.

Submitted Aug. 15, 2007

Just to clarify regarding the comment below, thyroid nodules on biopsy can be malignant, benign, indeterminate or non-diagnostic. It is not uncommon for a nodule to be indeterminate or non-diagnostic on a biopsy and it does not mean the biopsy was done improperly. Indeed our radiologists and pathologists are experts at these needle biopsies. Repeating the biopsy or thyroid removal are options. If a nodule is benign on biopsy but symptomatic or the patient wishes, follow-up or removal are also respective options. Removal is certainly an option for a 3-4 cm nodule. It is true that the pathologists keep the thyroid in a container when analyzing it, but the operation is done very meticulously and gently and I do between 200 and 300 thyroid and parathyroid operations every year and take great pride in taking care of all of my patients, I think reflected in the other comments below. I would be happy to clarify any of these issues via a call to the office. Sincerely, Dr. Alan Dackiw

Submitted June 21, 2007

Tried to use the "wait and see approach" on me as well, even though I had a 3-4 cm thyroid lesion of "unknown pathology" following an inconclusive biopsy at that hospital. Told me he'd take it out if I wanted him to and we could find out the pathology "after my neck was cut open and the thyroid was thrown in a bucket". This hospital refused to give me my slides from the botched biopsy, but billed me for abnomal pathology. This doctor, his department, and the hospital are corrupt. Being polite and practical gets you nowhere with this morally bankrupt doctor and teaching hospital that has been alleged to also not bother giving the best care Baltimore's poorest citizens just as much as its wealthiest.

Submitted June 18, 2007

My original endocrinologist originally recommended surgery on the basis of a 'suspicious' FNA, analyzed by Quest Diagnostics. Following review by JHopkins cytology lab, Dr. Dackiw recommended a 'wait and see ' approach and diagnosed me with Hashimoto's disease, a statement against interest. He spent a great deal of time and energy explaining the issues, etc.

Submitted Oct. 12, 2005

Incredible surgeon. I have very little scarring following my total thyroidectomy (considering how huge the mass was, the scar is very thin and not too long), and he really goes the extra mile to make sure that the voice is not affected (no hoarseness here, even in the recovery room). He's very nice, will answer questions like "how many of these surguries have you done?" without taking offense, and spends a lot of time with his patients. He even checked on me twice after the surgery before I left the hospital, which I'm pretty sure is unheard of.

Submitted Feb. 14, 2005