Radiofrequency ablation – “special treatment” of thyroid gland without surgery & medication

When detected early, thyroid cancer usually has a positive prognosis in terms of survival. However, choosing the best treatment method is the concern of many patients today, is surgery required, and what is the quality of life after surgery?

Video content is professionally consulted by Dr. CKII Le Thi My, Director of Thyroid Pathology Center, Vinmec Times City International Hospital

Usually, patients with thyroid cancer often have surgery to remove the tumor, then combine with radioactive iodine therapy. Because the thyroid gland has been removed, after surgery, the patient needs to take thyroid hormone medicine for life to supplement the deficiency of thyroid hormone and also to inhibit cancer cells from growing. Recently, patients with hypothyroidism in Vietnam have had one more optimal treatment option: that is treatment with radiofrequency ablation, the patient does not have to have surgery, maximizes the preservation of the thyroid gland and does not require surgery. taking hormone pills for life.
Doctor CKII Le Thi My, Director of Center for Thyroid Diseases, Vinmec Times City General Hospital, said: “The method of radiofrequency ablation for thyroid cancer patients has been studied in many countries such as Italy and Korea. In recent years, China, Taiwan, and China have shown the same effectiveness as surgery. In particular, treatment with this method reduces complications and local recurrence. Patients can maximize the thyroid gland - an important endocrine gland of the body - so they no longer have to depend on drugs, do not have to undergo radiation treatment, do not need to take daily drugs as usual.
According to the latest clinical practice guidelines T5/2021 of the European Thyroid Association - ATA, radiofrequency ablation is approved as one of the treatment methods for thyroid cancer in cases of papillary thyroid carcinoma. , lymph node metastasis after thyroid cancer, inoperable thyroid cancer.

Ms. Doan Thi Chi (33 years old, from Hanoi) is one of the first patients in Vinmec to have access to this method. At the end of September 2021, she chose to be treated at Vinmec Times City International General Hospital.
With the principle of using high-frequency energy to completely destroy thyroid cancer, after the procedure lasts less than 5 minutes, Ms. Chi can still talk normally: "Go back and go back in. Seeing the doctor announcing the completion of the procedure, no pain, can talk normally. If this method can be extended, the patient will not have to have major surgery, no scarring, no hospital stay, no thyroidectomy, no hormonal drugs, no radiation therapy, no surgical complications, no anesthesia." (video shared by the patient).
Immediately after the ablation, her health was normal, so she went back to work and did not need to rest. The patient's neck only had a very small puncture like a needle. (focus on the wound during the procedure). Doctors also said: Due to the early detection of the disease, the prognosis for Ms. Chi's outcome is very good, which can be considered as a complete recovery.
Thyroid cancers in the early stages are usually small lesions. Location of the neck with many important anatomical structures. Therefore, the person performing the radiofrequency ablation technique must ensure extremely precise manipulation to be able to completely destroy the cancerous nucleus without damaging the adjacent anatomical structures such as blood vessels, vocal cords. regurgitation, cervical sympathetic ganglia. Patients should choose to be treated at medical facilities with doctors who specialize in thyroid diseases, have professional qualifications and skills to have the most optimal treatment results.
According to statistics of the Ministry of Health, thyroid cancer ranks 10th among cancers in Vietnam, with about 6,000 new cases each year. The good news is that more and more cases are detected early through the annual medical examination of employees.
Currently, radiofrequency ablation is a radical treatment for thyroid cancer without surgery. Patients do not have scars from surgery in the neck, maximize the preservation of healthy thyroid parenchyma, reduce hypothyroidism complications compared to surgery, do not require hospitalization and save costs.
The early availability of hospitals has quickly updated the application of new and advanced thyroid treatment methods such as radiofrequency ablation, not only helping patients in Vietnam have a high chance of recovery, long life time. especially life after treatment is not affected.
Currently, the technique of high-frequency ablation has been performed at Vinmec International General Hospital. To ensure the process of medical examination and treatment, Vinmec is now fully equipped with facilities and a modern and standard medical system. In particular, the process of examining and performing high-frequency ablation at Vinmec are performed by experienced specialists with many years of experience in the profession, which will bring high treatment efficiency and minimize the risk. Complications can occur during and after treatment.