Due to a system-wide technology update, we are experiencing extremely high call volume. We appreciate your patience with our operators during this time. Thank you for choosing Fox Chase Cancer Center.
Christian Koch, MD, PhD, FACP, MACE
Director, Division of Endocrinology
Professor, Department of Medicine
Endocrinologist
Specialties
Treatment Focus
Head and Neck Tumors, Pituitary tumors, Adrenal Tumors, Neuroendocrine Tumors
Key Awards
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| Endocrinology, Diabetes & Metabolism |
Language(s) Other than English
- German
Treatment Philosophy
I am excited to be part of the multidisciplinary care at Fox Chase, and to work to improve patients' outcomes. Since endocrinology intersects with all of the other medical disciplines at Fox Chase, I get to interact daily with all my colleagues. I am truly honored to be able to help when cancer treatment affects a patient’s endocrine system. When a patient comes to see me, they can be anxious, depressed, and worried. And my goal is that they leave their appointment with a smile on their face, relieved because they know there’s a solution to it. Fox Chase has a solution to it.
Clinical Locations
- Fox Chase Cancer Center
Primary Location
Educational Background
- DSc, University of Leipzig, “Dr.med.habilitatus”, Leipzig, Germany, 2003
- Fellowship in Endocrinology, National Institutes of Health, 1998-2001
- Internship and residency in Internal Medicine, Ohio State University Hospitals, Columbus, OH, 1994-97
- Honorary research scholar, Royal Children’s Hospital, Dept. of Endocrinology, Melbourne, Australia, 1996
- USMLE Step III, USMLE Step II, 1997
- USMLE Step I (during internship/residency in the U.S.), 1995
- Residency in neurology, University Hospital Jena, Jena, Germany, 1993
- PhD, Westfalian-Wilhelms-University, Muenster, Germany, 1993
- TOEFL (English test) and ECFMG indefinitely # 0-459-402-4, 1993
- FMGEMS, Part II (clinical sciences), 1991
- MD, Friedrich-Alexander University, Erlangen-Nuremberg, Germany, 1991
Certifications
- Endocrinology
- Internal Medicine
- Diplomate, American Board of Clinical Lipidology
Lipidologist DGFF (Germany)
Memberships
- Fellow of the American College of Physicians (ACP)
- Master of the American College of Endocrinologists (AACE)
- Member of the Southern Society of Clinical Investigation/SSCI
- American Endocrine Society
- American Diabetes Association
- National Lipid Association
- German Diabetes Association (DDG) and German Diabetologist “DDG”
- German Endocrine Society
Committee Memberships
- AACE Pituitary, Gonad, Adrenal and Neuroendocrine Disease State Network, 2018-
- AACE Adrenal Scientific Committee (Chair: Dr. Karel Pacak), 2016-2018
- Clinical Guidelines Subcommittee, Endocrine Society (Chair: Dr. Maria Fleseriu), 2015-2018
- AACE (President: George Gruenberger, MD) Publications Committee, 2015-2018
- AACE (President: George Gruenberger, MD) Awards Committee, 2015-2018
- Southern States Chapter of AACE, Board of Directors (President: Dr. Richard Rosenthal), 2015 -2018
- Council member, Southern Region AFMR (Execut. Dir: E. Chouinard, B. Wagner), 2013-
- Research Committee, DoM, Univ of Miss Med Center, 2006-2008, 2009-
Honors & Awards
- Philadelphia Magazine Top Doctors, 2020
- Master of the American College of Endocrinology = M.A.C.E., 2017
- US News Top Doctor 2011-2016
- Castle Connolly America’s Top Doctors 2007-2016
- The Leading Physicians of the World 2013-2016
- Best of United States Physicians 2009 (bestofus.com)
- Patient’s Choice Award 2013-2015
- Compassionate Doctor Recognition 2013-2015
- Marquis Who is Who in the World 2009, Biltmore Who’s Who 2009
- Consultant of the Year Award, Dept of ENT (Chair: S. Stringer, MD), Univ of Mississippi, June 2008
- O-(utstanding) professor/researcher visa in 2007 and in 2001 (see Google)
- Winner International Poster Competition, ACP, San Diego, April 2003
- F.A.C.P. - election in July 2002 (age 37, published academician pathway)
- F.A.C.E. = Fellow of the American College of Endocrinology 5/2001
- Young Investigator Award (1st place): AACE, May 2001, Texas
- Resident outstanding teacher award, The Ohio State University, 1997
Research Interests
- Neuroendocrinology and Neuroscience
- Pathogenesis of endocrine tumors incl. pituitary, adrenal, thyroid glands
- Endocrine Hypertension
- Endocrine Genetics and hormone resistance / insensitivity syndromes
- Multiple endocrine neoplasia syndromes
- Von Hippel Lindau syndrome
- Adrenal tumors
- Water metabolism and pituitary disorders (Cushing’s, acromegaly, others)
Dennis Haring
- Neuroendocrine Tumors
I am in good hands with my care team. Their multidisciplinary approach made it possible for me to regain my quality of life and look forward to my future.
James "Cy" Young
- Melanoma
Fox Chase saved my life, and they’ve given me many more years to live.
Selected Publications
Tharmalingam S, Reddy S, Sharda P, Koch CA. Severe Hypocalcemia and transient hypoparathyroidism after hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy. Thieme Connect 2020;Aug 7
Oktay AA, Aktürk HK, Paul TK, O'Keefe JH, Ventura HO, Koch CA, Lavie CJ. Diabetes, Cardiomyopathy, and Heart Failure. [Updated 2020 Aug 1]. In: Feingold KR, Anawalt B, Boyce A, et al., editors. Endotext [Internet]. South Dartmouth (MA): MDText.com, Inc.; 2000-.
Glasker S, Vergauwen E, Koch CA, Kutikov A, Vortmeyer AO. Von Hippel-Lindau disease: current challenges and future prospects. Onco Targets Ther 2020;June 16:13:5669-5690
Christian A.Koch, RobertoVita, SalvatoreBenvenga, The various faces of hyperthyroidism, Jnl of Clinical & Translational Endocrinology, Vol 20, June 2020, 100229
Gubbi S, Hannah-Shmouni F, Verbalis JG, Koch CA.Hypophysitis: an update on the novel forms, diagnosis and management of disorders of pituitary inflammation. Best Pract Res Clin Endocrinol Metab 2019;Dec 12:101371 doi: 10.1016/j.beem.2019.101371
Fulop T, Zsom L, Hamrahian M, Rodriguez RD, Chabrier-Rosello JO, Koch CA. Therapeutic hypernatremia management during continuous renal replacement therapy with elevated intracranial pressures and respiratory failure. Rev Endocr Metab Disord 2019;20 (1):65-75
Khan AA, Koch CA, Van Uum SHM, Baillargeon JP, Bollerslev J, Brandi ML, Marcocci C, Rejnmark L, Rizzoli R, Shrayyef MZ, Thakker RV, Yildiz BO, Clarke B. Standards of care for hypoparathyroidism in adults. Eur J Endocrinol 2019,180(3):P1-P22
Koch CA, Krabbe S, Hehmke B. Statins, metformin, proprotein-convertase-subtilisin-kexin type-9 (PCSK9) inhibitors and sex hormones: immunomodulatory properties ? Rev Endocr Metab Disord 2018, Dec (19(4):363-395
Koch CA, Petersenn S. Black swans – neuroendocrine tumors of rare locations. Rev Endocr Metab Disord 2018,Jun;19(2):107-109
Bhanat E, Koch CA, Parmar R, Garla V, Vijayakumar V. Somatostatin receptor expression in non-classical locations - clinical relevance? Rev Endocr Metab Disord. 2018 Jun;19(2):123-132
Dynkevich Y,Rother KI, Whitford I, Qureshi S, Galiveeti S, Szulc AL, Danoff A, Breen TL, Kaviani N, Shanik MH, LeRoith D, Vigneri R, Koch CA, Roth J. Tumors, IGF-2, and hypoglycemia: insights from the clinic, the laboratory and the historical archive. Endocr Rev 2013;34(6):798-826
Fulop T, Farah Musa AR, Koch CA, Hamrahian M, Gharaibeh K, Lengvarsky Z, Pitman KT, Dixit MP. Targeted surgical parathyroidectomy in end-stage renal disease patients and longterm metabolic control: a single-center experience in the current era. Hemodial Int 2018; Jul;22(3):394-404
Kumar E, McCurdy MT, Koch CA, Hamadah A, Fulop T, Gharaibeh KA. Functional impairment of thyroid function in critically ill patients in the intensive care units. Am J Med Sci 2018; 355(3):281-285
Sindoni A, Fama F, Rosano A, Scisca C, Dionigi G, Koch CA, Gioffre-Florio M, Benvenga S. Thyroid nodules coexisting with either cystic or solid breast nodules: a new clue for this association between nodules coming from ultrasonography. Gland Surg 2017;6(6):630-637
Riley DS, Barber MS, Kienle GS, Aronson J, von Schoen-Angerer T, Tugwell P, Helfand M, Kiene H, Werthmann PG, Shamseer L, Moher D, Rison RA, Koch CA, Hanaway P, Sun GH, Altman DG, Sox H, Sudak N, Gagnier JJ. CARE 2013 explanations and elaborations: reporting guidelines for case reports. J Clin Epidemiol 2017; 89:218-235
Fleseriu M, Findling JW, Koch CA, Schlaffer SM, Buchfelder M, Gross C. Changes in plasma ACTH levels and corticotroph tumor size in patients with Cushing's disease during long-term treatment with the glucocorticoid receptor antagonist mifepristone. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2014;99(10):3718-27
Melcescu E, Horton WB, Pitman KT, Vijayakumar V, Koch CA. Euthyroid Graves’ orbitopathy and incidental papillary thyroid microcarcinoma. Hormones (Athens) 2013; Apr 12(2):298-304
Agarwal M, Csongradi E, Koch CA, Juncos LA, Echols V, Tapolyai M, Fulop T. Severe symptomatic hypocalcemia after denusomab administration in an end-stage renal disease patient on peritoneal dialysis with controlled secondary hyperparathyroidism. Br J Med & Med Res 2013;3(4):1398-1406
Gharaibeh KA, Craig MJ, Koch CA, Lerant AA, Fulop T, Csongradi E. Desmopressin for hyponatremia overcorrection: an effective adjunct treatment for reversing rapid overcorrection and preventing osmotic demyelination syndrome. World J Clin Cases 2013;August 16; 1(5):155-158
Melcescu E, Gannon AW, Parent AD, Fratkin JF, Galhom A, Nicholas WC, Koch CA. Silent or subclinical corticotroph pituitary macroadenoma transforming into Cushing’s disease: 11-year follow-up. Neurosurgery 2013;72(1):E144-6
Saunders RN, Koch CA, Brown KB, Daley WP, Ahmed N, Vanderlan WB. Bilateral adrenal myeolipomas in a woman with chronic anticoagulation, postmenopausal uterine bleeding, primary hyperparathyroidism, and hyperthyroidism. Am J Med Sci 2013; 346(1):82-85
Melcescu E, Hogan RB, Brown K, Boyd SA, Abell TL, Koch CA. The various faces of autoimmune endocrinopathies: non-tumoral hypergastrinemia in a patient with lymphocytic colitis and chronic autoimmune gastritis.Exp Mol Pathol 2012;93(3):434-40
Phillips J, East HE, French SE, Melcescu E, Hamilton RD, Nicholas WC, Fratkin JF, Parent AD, Luzardo G, Koch CA. What causes a prolactinoma to be aggressive or to become a pituitary carcinoma? Hormones (Athens) 2012;11(4):477-482
Melcescu E, Phillips J, Moll G, Subauste JS, Koch CA. 11beta-hydroxylase deficiency and other syndromes of mineralocorticoid excess as a rare cause of endocrine hypertension. Horm Metab Res 2012;44(12):867-878
Fleseriu M, Biller BMK, Findling JW, Molitch ME, Schteingart DE, Gross C on behalf of the SEISMIC study investigators. Mifepristone, a glucocorticoid receptor antagonist, produces clinical and metabolic benefits in patients with Cushing’s syndrome. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2012 Jun;97(6):2039-49
Singer J, Koch CA, Kassahun W, Lamesch P, Eisenhofer G, Kluge R, Lincke T, Seiwerts M, Borte G, Schierle K, Paschke R. Pitfalls of diagnosis in a patient with a large recurrent pheochromocytoma. Nat Rev Endocrinol 2011;7(12):749-55
Singer J, Werner F, Koch CA, Bartels M, Aigner T, Lincke T, Fasshauer M, Paschke R. Ectopic Cushing’s syndrome caused by a well differentiated ACTH-secreting neuroendocrine carcinoma of the ileum. Exp Clin Endocrinol Diab 2010;118(8):524-9
Majumdar S, Friedrich CA, Koch CA, Megason GC, Fratkin JD, Moll GW. Compound heterozygous mutation with a novel splice donor region DNA sequence variant in the succinate dehydrogenase subunit B gene in a boy with malignant paraganglioma. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2010; 54(3):473-5
Baldauf C, Vortmeyer AO, Koch CA, Sticherling M. Combination of multiple skin malignancies with multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1: coincidental or pathogenetically related? Dermatology 2009;219(4):365-7
Koutlas IG, Koch CA, Vickers RA, Brouwers FM, Vortmeyer AO. An unusual ostensible example of intraoral basal cell carcinoma. J Cut Pathology 2009;36(4):464-70
Anlauf M, Bauersfeld J, Raffel A, Koch CA, et al. Insulinomatosis: a multicentric insulinoma disease that frequently causes early recurrent hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia. Am J Surg Pathol 2009;33(3):339-46
Georgitsi M, Heliovaara E, Paschke R, Kumar AV, Tischkowitz M, Vierimaa O, Salmela P, Sane T, De Menis E, Cannavo S, Gundogdu S, Lucassen A, Izatt L,Aylwin S, Bano G, Hodgson S, Koch CA, Karhu A, Aaltonen LA. Large genomic deletions of aryl hydrocarbon receptor interacting protein (AIP)gene in pituitary adenoma predisposition. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2008; 93(10):4146-51
Georgitsi M, Raitila A, Karhu A, van der Luijt RB, Aalfs CM, Sane T, Vierimaa O, Makinen MJ, Tuppurainen K, Paschke R, Gimm O, Koch CA, Gundogdu S, Lucassen A, Tischkowitz M, Izatt L, Aylwin S, Bano G, Hodgson S, De Menis E, Launonen V, Vahteristo P, Aaltonen LA. Germline CDKN1B/p27Kip1 mutation in multiple endocrine neoplasia. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2007;92(8):3321-5
Brauer VFH, Scholz GH, Neumann S, Lohmann T, Paschke R, Koch CA. RET germline mutation in codon 791 in a family representing 3 generations from age 5 to age 70: should thyroidectomy be performed? Endocr Practice 2004;10(1):5-9
Santarpia L, Koch CA, Sarlis NJ. Hypercalcemia in cancer patients: pathobiology and management. Horm Metab Res 2010; 42(3):153-64
Koch CA, Fulop T. Clinical aspects of changes in water and sodium homeostasis in the elderly. Rev Endocr Metab Disord 2017;18(1):49-66
Koch CA, Doppman JL, Watson JC, Patronas NJ, Nieman LK. Spinal epidural lipomatosis in a patient with the ectopic corticotropin syndrome. N Engl J Med. 1999 Oct 28;341(18):1399-400
Koch CA, Pacak K, Chrousos GP. The molecular pathogenesis of hereditary and sporadic adrenocortical and adrenomedullary tumors. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2002; 87: 5367-84
Dr Koch is just wonderful. He really takes his time with his patients, discussing potential options for treatment and explaining in detailed layman's terms why one might be preferred. I highly recommend Dr Koch.
Good
I was very pleased with Dr. Koch and how I was treated by all staff.
My doctor is very caring, I am very pleased with him. The nurses and receptionists were all very nice.
Dr. Koch is not the quality that I believe Fox Chase needs. After [...] he is not acceptable.
My appointment was at 3:40 pm and I was forgot about and not seen until 4:40pm. I was listed as a male on my chart and I am a female! I did not feel that all my results were examined carefully and I felt that the team was exhausted at the end of the day and I felt I did not get all the information that I needed to make a decision about my health. I will get a second opinion else where. Very disappointed with Fox Chase!
Dr. Koch is a top notch doctor.
Dr. Koch, as always was kind & courteous. He always spends a good amount of time with me. He makes sure I understand my thyroid issue and always explains my bloodwork & medication.
Dr. Koch is a wonderful doctor - takes his time with his patients, explains things in easy to understand terminology, provides options for care and offers perspective. I feel fortunate to be a patient of his.
Overall I am happy with everyone I have interacted with at Fox Chase.
Dr Kosh is very good. My only concern is that he tends to be patronizing & he did not know my full medical history.
Besides being a super top of the line Doc, he has heart of gold
Good
Very good experience.
Everyone was very helpful that day, no waiting, & answers to all my questions were provided right up front. I just have to complete one further test for this provider.
Excellent care by the Dr. Koch and all staff, i.e., nurses, receptions. I feel very confident in my health issues. [...]
Very satisfied... with my visit.
Dr. Koch provides excellent and thorough care. Me experiences with him have been exceptional - he listens to my questions and concerns while always providing thoughtful responses. He has a wonderful manner in dealing with patients. I would HIGHLY recommend him to anyone in need of his expertise.
Everyone connected to the doctors office & hospital were excellent.
Dr. Koch took the time to listen and spend time with me regarding the medical issue I was experiencing and was very good in providing me insight regarding the issue.
I couldn't have had better care and concern for my health issues.
there was an extra long wait for my appointed time but Dr Koch and his nurse explained the reason for the delay which I appreciated.