Thyroid Ablation

A thyroid nodule is an unusual growth of cells on the thyroid gland. They’re common, almost always noncancerous (benign), and usually don’t cause symptoms. In rare cases, they’re cancerous. More than 90% of detected nodules in adults are noncancerous, but they may represent thyroid cancer in approximately 4.0% to 6.5% of cases.

Signs and Symptoms

Most thyroid nodules don’t cause symptoms. However, if you have several nodules or large nodules, you may be able to see them.

In rare cases, nodules can grow big enough to cause the following symptoms:

  • The trouble with swallowing or breathing.
  • Hoarseness or voice changes.
  • Pain in the front of your neck.
  • Enlargement of your thyroid gland (goitre).

Hyper-functioning thyroid – hyperthyroidism

Symptoms of hyperthyroidism include:

  • Rapid heartbeat (palpitations).
  • Feeling shaky and/or nervous.
  • Weight loss.
  • Increased appetite.
  • Diarrhoea and more frequent bowel movements.
  • Difficulty sleeping.
  • Enlarged thyroid gland (goitre).
  • Light or missed menstrual periods.

Under-functioning Thyroid -hypothyroidism

Symptoms of hypothyroidism include:

  • Fatigue.
  • Numbness and tingling in your hands.
  • Weight gain.
  • Dry, coarse skin and hair.
  • Constipation.
  • Depression.
  • Frequent, heavy menstrual periods.

Risk Factors

  • Family history of thyroid nodules or thyroid cancer.
  • Increasing age.
  • Iron deficiency -anaemia.
  • Smoking.
  • Obesity.
  • Metabolic syndrome.
  • Alcohol consumption.
  • Increased levels of insulin-like growth factor-1 (a hormone).
  • Uterine fibroids.

Treatments

Graves’ Disease (GD) is the most common cause of hyperthyroidism and treatment options include:

  • Antithyroid drugs (ATD)
  • Thyroid surgery
  • Radioiodine therapy (RIT) and Thyroid Ablation (TA, also known as RFA-Radiofrequency ablation).

Lifestyle changes and at-home remedies

  1. Diet: A healthy diet that is low in iodine can help to reduce thyroid hormone production. Some foods to avoid include iodized salt, seafood, and dairy products.
  2. Exercise: Regular exercise can help to reduce stress and improve overall health. Aim for at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise most days of the week.
  3. Stress management: Stress can worsen the symptoms of hyperthyroidism. Several stress management techniques can be helpful, such as yoga, meditation, and deep breathing exercises.

Here are some additional tips for managing hyperthyroidism at home:

  • Get enough sleep.
  • Avoid caffeine and alcohol.
  • Drink plenty of fluids.
  • Monitor your weight.
  • See your doctor if your symptoms worsen.

It is important to note that lifestyle changes and at-home remedies should not be used as a substitute for medical treatment. If you have hyperthyroidism, it is important to see your doctor regularly to monitor your thyroid hormone levels and receive appropriate treatment.

Importance of Thyroid Gland

  1. Our brain, heart, digestive, and metabolic systems function normally with the help of the thyroid gland.
  2. The thyroid gland is part of the endocrine system, where it secretes hormones to regulate the body’s heart rate, blood pressure, temperature, and metabolism.

FAQs

  1. What is Thyroid Ablation?
    Graves’ Disease (GD) is the most common cause of hyperthyroidism and treatment options include antithyroid drugs (ATD), thyroid surgery, radioiodine therapy (RIT), and Thyroid Ablation (TA, also known as MWA – Microwave ablation/ RFA-Radiofrequency ablation).
    Thyroid Ablation is a non-surgical and minimally-invasive treatment procedure to reduce the size of thyroid nodules, improve aesthetic appearance, and restore thyroid function.
  2. Why Choose RFA/MWA instead of surgery?
    Surgery results in a visible scar, while the MWA / RFA procedure is minimally invasive and a safe and relatively quick treatment option, also enables patients to resume normal daily activity with minimal recovery time. While surgery may involve removing part of the thyroid, MWA/RFA maintains thyroid integrity, which supports improved thyroid function.
    1. A minimally-invasive procedure
    2. Preserves your healthy thyroid tissue and allows it to function normally without the need for lifelong medication
    3. Performed under local anaesthesia as an out-patient procedure (no need for hospitalisation)
    4. Shorter recovery time
    5. No visible scarring
    6. Reduced the volume of the nodule with a low complication rate
    7. Improves quality of life
    8. No need to take thyroid supplements for life as is needed with thyroid surgery.

How is Microwave ablation / Radio-frequency ablation of the thyroid gland done?

  • In this procedure, a thin electrode is inserted into the thyroid gland.
  • Electrode transmits microwaves into the thyroid nodule, which generates heat and burns abnormal tissue.
  • Thyroid nodule shrinks slowly over some time.
  • A 50% size reduction is noted at 3 months and around 70-80% size reduction is noted at 6 months post-procedure.

If you have questions regarding treatments for Thyroid Ablation, please contact us.