Thomas J. Polascik, MD

My Locations

Duke Cancer Center

20 Duke Medicine Cir

Durham, NC 27710

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Duke Cancer Center Genitourinary (GU) Clinic

20 Duke Medicine Cir
Clinic 5-1

Durham, NC 27710-2000

Office: 919-668-6688 Get Directions

About Me

Learn More About Me

Every day, my goal is to take the best surgical care of my patients' kidney or prostate cancer by offering the most up-to-date minimally invasive surgical treatments, while making sure that their experiences and outcomes at Duke Health are top-notch! As we look at the scans together and discuss biopsy results, it is important to me that I spend all of the time that my patients and their families need to clearly understand their diagnosis as well as all treatment options, so that we can make joint decisions about next steps and their treatment plan. Many of my patients are referred from all over the country to seek highly specialized urology care, including nonsurgical focal cryotherapy for prostate cancer, robotic surgery for prostate cancer, or robotic surgical removal of their kidney tumor called a partial nephrectomy, among other treatments, with our multidisciplinary, collaborative team. I always reassure and share my positive outlook with my patients as we navigate the health system together. My patients know that, as their physician, I will be their champion and advise them and guide them through their treatment. We are in this together.

School of Medicine Departments and Divisions

Surgery
- Urology

Current Appointments and Affiliations

Lawrence C. Katz Distinguished Professor, Urology 2024
Professor of Urology, Urology 2011
Professor in Radiology, Radiology 2023

Languages

English, Spanish

Areas of Expertise

Focal Therapy
Kidney Cancer
Prostate Cancer
Prostate MRI
Robotic Surgery

Training

Board Certifications

American Board of Urology, Urology

Residency

General Surgery, Johns Hopkins Hospital (Maryland), 1991-1993

Urology, James Buchanan Brady Urological Institute, Johns Hopkins Hospital (Maryland), 1993-1997

Education

MD, University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine (Illinois), 1991

Fellowship

Urologic Oncology, Johns Hopkins Hospital (Maryland), 1997-1998

Clinical Focus and Research

My Research Interests

My research focuses on prostate cancer imaging, focal therapy of prostate cancer, prostate cancer outcomes, kidney cancer outcomes, minimally invasive surgery, and nerve-sparing cryotherapy for prostate cancer.

Publications and Grants

Hessian Map- Platelet Proteomic Assay awarded by Hessian Labs, Inc. 2025 - 2030
Evaluation of a Soft Tissue Biopsy System for Trans-Rectal and Trans-Perineal Biopsy of the Prostate awarded by URO-1 Inc. 2023 - 2028
VAPOR 2 Study awarded by Francis Medical, Inc. 2023 - 2028

Polascik, T. J., J. De la Rosette, R. Sanchez-Salas, and A. R. Rastinehad. Imaging and Focal Therapy of Early Prostate Cancer, Third Edition, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-66754-1.
Polascik, T. J. Preface, 2013. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-62703-182-0.

Ahmed, Hashim U., Oguz Akin, Jonathan A. Coleman, Sarah Crane, Mark Emberton, Larry Goldenberg, Hedvig Hricak, et al. “Transatlantic Consensus Group on active surveillance and focal therapy for prostate cancer.” BJU Int 109, no. 11 (June 2012): 1636–47. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1464-410X.2011.10633.x.
Wattson, Daniel A., Ming-Hui Chen, Brian J. Moran, Daniel E. Dosoretz, Michelle H. Braccioforte, Sharon A. Salenius, and Anthony V. D’Amico. “The number of high-risk factors and the risk of prostate cancer-specific mortality after brachytherapy: implications for treatment selection.” Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 82, no. 5 (April 1, 2012): e773–79. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijrobp.2011.11.023.
Tsivian, Matvey, Charles Y. Kim, Jorge R. Caso, Michael D. Rosenberg, Rendon C. Nelson, and Thomas J. Polascik. “Contrast enhancement on computed tomography after renal cryoablation: an evidence of treatment failure?” J Endourol 26, no. 4 (April 2012): 330–35. https://doi.org/10.1089/end.2011.0337.

Tay, K. J., S. Deivasigamani, A. Katz, and T. J. Polascik. “Focal Cryotherapy.” In Imaging and Focal Therapy of Early Prostate Cancer Third Edition, 327–44, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-66754-1_28.
Villers, A., J. Olivier, T. M. Wheeler, D. Seguier, M. Mottaghi, and T. J. Polascik. “Understanding Tumor Biology and Pathology: Cancer Grade, Volume, and Spatial Location: As a Foundation for Focal Therapy.” In Imaging and Focal Therapy of Early Prostate Cancer Third Edition, 97–102, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-66754-1_9.
Polascik, T. J., J. De la Rosette, R. Sanchez-Salas, and A. R. Rastinehad. “Correction to: Imaging and Focal Therapy of Early Prostate Cancer.” In Imaging and Focal Therapy of Early Prostate Cancer Third Edition, C1, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-66754-1_42.

Morris, Kostantinos E., Srinath Kotamarti, Thomas J. Polascik, and Judd W. Moul. “Re-thinking How We Use Prostate Health Index for African American Men.” In Urology, 175:144–50, 2023. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.urology.2022.12.057.
Chan, D. Y., S. R. Moavenzadeh, T. J. Polascik, M. L. Palmeri, and K. R. Nightingale. “Screening and Image-Guided Targeted Biopsy of Prostate Cancer Using 3D Acoustic Radiation Force Impulse (ARFI) Imaging.” In IEEE International Ultrasonics Symposium Ius, Vol. 2022-October, 2022. https://doi.org/10.1109/IUS54386.2022.9957510.
Chan, D. Y., D. C. Morris, T. Lye, T. J. Polascik, M. L. Palmeri, J. Mamou, and K. R. Nightingale. “Deep neural network for multiparametric ultrasound imaging of prostate cancer.” In IEEE International Ultrasonics Symposium Ius, 2021. https://doi.org/10.1109/IUS52206.2021.9593332.

Ratings and Reviews

The Patient Rating score is an average of all responses to care provider related questions on our nationally-recognized Press Ganey Patient Satisfaction Survey. Learn more about our survey process. Responses are measured on a scale of 1 to 5 with 5 being the best score.

Overall Provider Rating

4.65 out of 5

493 ratings, 53 reviews

Patient Reviews

Patient comments are gathered from our Press Ganey Patient Survey and displayed in their entirety.
Patients are de-identified for confidentiality and patient privacy

Insurance

Duke Health contracts with most major health insurance carriers and transplant networks, including the ones listed below. Before scheduling your appointment, we strongly recommend you contact your insurance company to verify that the Duke Health location or provider you plan to visit is included in your network. Your insurance company will also be able to inform you of any co-payments, co–insurances, or deductibles that will be your responsibility. If you proceed in scheduling an appointment and your health insurance benefits do not participate with Duke, your out of pocket liability may be higher. We will contact you regarding your coverage and patient liability. If you are uninsured, learn more about our financial assistance policy.

Aetna
- Aetna Choice POS, Aetna Choice POS II
- Aetna Medicare Assure Plan (HMO D-SNP)
- Aetna/CVS Health
- Aetna Elect Choice HMO, Aetna Open Access Elect Choice
- Aetna Health Network Only, Aetna Health Network Option
- Aetna HMO
- Aetna Limited Benefit Insurance PPO
- Aetna Managed Choice POS
- Aetna Medicare Value Plan (HMO)
- Aetna Medicare Essential Plan (PPO)
- Aetna Medicare Eagle Plan (PPO)
- Aetna Open Access HMO, Open Access Aetna Select, Aetna Open Access Select, Aetna Open Access Managed Choice
- Aetna Open Choice PPO
- Aetna PCP Coordinated POS Plan
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (QPOS)
- Aetna Select HMO
- Aetna Traditional Choice
- Aetna Voluntary Indemnity Group Plan
- Aetna Whole Health – Duke WakeMed WKCC
Ambetter
- Ambetter of North Carolina
Blue Cross Blue Shield of NC
- Blue Advantage
- Blue Medicare (HMO, PPO)*
- Blue Options (123, PPO, HSA)
- Blue Select
- NC State Employees Health Plan
- *Duke HomeCare and Hospice does not participate in the plan.
CIGNA
- Cigna Behavioral Health (*Limited eligibility)
- Cigna Choice Plus
- Cigna Connect Individual Family Plan
- Cigna Open Access
- Cigna Open Access Plus
- *Please call Cigna Behavioral Heath to see if the provider is participating in your plan.
Duke Group Plans
- Duke Basic
- Duke Select
Experience Health
- Experience Health Medicare Advantage (HMO) Plan
First Health
Gateway Health Alliance
Halifax Physician-Hospital Organization
- Halifax Physician-Hospital Organization plans*
- *This plan is only accepted at Duke University Hospital, Duke Regional Hospital, Duke Raleigh Hospital, and Duke HomeCare & Hospice.
Healthgram

Humana
- Humana Choice (PPO)
- Humana Choice - Medicare Advantage (PPO)
- Humana ChoiceCare - Medicare Advantage (PPO)
- Humana Gold Choice - Medicare Advantage (PFFS)
- Humana Gold Plus - Medicare Advantage (HMO)
- Humana Medicare Advantage Group Plan - NC State Retirees
MedCost
Medicare
- First Medicare Direct
- Medicare Part A
- Medicare Part B
MultiPlan / Private Healthcare Systems
NC Medicaid
- WellCare of North Carolina
- UnitedHealthcare Community Plan
- NC Medicaid Direct
- Healthy Blue
- Carolina Complete Health
- AmeriHealth Caritas North Carolina
OneNet PPO
Optima Health
- FAMIS*
- Optima Family Care (Medicaid HMO in VA)*
- Optima Individual & Family (On & Off Exchange Plans)
- Optima Plus (PPO)
- Optima Vantage (HMO)
- *Duke Primary Care, Duke University Hospital, Duke Regional Hospital, and Duke Raleigh Hospital are not participating with this plan.
TRICARE
- TRICARE Prime
- TRICARE Prime Remote
- TRICARE Select
United Healthcare
- AARP Medicare Advantage Plan 2 (HMO-POS)
- AARP Medicare Complete (HMO, PPO)*
- AARP Medicare Complete Essential (HMO)*
- All Savers Alternate Funding
- All Savers Fully Insured
- United Healthcare (HMO, PPO, POS)
- United Healthcare Charter/Charter Balance/Charter Plus
- United Healthcare Choice/Choice Plus
- United Healthcare Core/Core Essential
- United Healthcare Navigate/Navigate Plus/Navigate Balanced
- United Healthcare Option PPO
- United Healthcare Passport Connect Choice/Choice Plus
- United Healthcare Passport Connect Options PPO
- United Healthcare Select/Select Plus
- United Healthcare Shared Services - Harvard Pilgrim/UHC Options PPO Network
- United Medical Resources (UMR)
- *Duke HomeCare and Hospice and mental health providers do not participate with the plan.

External Relationships

This faculty member (or a member of their immediate family) has reported outside activities with the companies or institutions listed below. This information has been reported to the health system leadership and, when appropriate, management plans are in place to address potential conflicts of interest.

Astellas Pharma Inc.
Ferring Pharmaceuticals
Janssen Pharmaceuticals (Johnson & Johnson)
Merck Sharpe & Dohme (Merck & Co, USA)