Radiofrequency - treatment of benign thyroid nodules without surgery

The article was written by Specialist Doctor II Le Thi My - Director of Thyroid Pathology Center - Department of Diagnostic Imaging and Nuclear Medicine - Vinmec Times City International Hospital

Radiofrequency ablation helps to treat benign thyroid tumors without surgery, which is a method to maximize thyroid function, leaving no scars. Currently, this method has been successful and implemented in developed countries such as the US, Japan, and Korea, including Vietnam.

Currently, this method of treatment has been used a lot in the treatment of liver tumors, breast tumors, lung tumors, bone tumors, kidney tumors... However, it is still quite new in the treatment of thyroid tumors. The first thyroid tumor ablation was performed in 2002 by Prof. Jung Hwan Baek in Korea. Currently, this technique has been developed in many parts of the world such as Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Italy, USA... With this method of treatment, patients only need local anesthesia without the need for anesthesia. general anesthesia as well as without surgery, safe and very effective.
Radiofrequency ablation for the treatment of benign thyroid tumors is a method of destroying tumors with heat caused by the friction of ions in the tissue under the influence of high-frequency alternating current. The heat generated by friction damages and kills the cells of the tumor tissue. Over time the lesion will shrink and become scar tissue.

With this technique, the patient remains fully awake, no anesthesia is required, only local anesthesia is needed to reduce pain during the procedure. The doctor will use a burner larger than a normal needle to pierce the skin precisely into the thyroid nodule under ultrasound guidance. Depending on the size, location and composition of the thyroid nodule, the appropriate needle size and RF power will be selected to destroy the lesion.

Burning time averages 10 - 30 minutes, throughout the procedure, patients are encouraged to talk to their doctor to help manage complications from damage to the recurrent laryngeal nerve. The burning process is completely controlled under the guidance of ultrasound, ensuring the exact burning area and avoiding damage to the anatomical structures adjacent to the thyroid gland (blood vessels, nerves...). Immediately after the intervention, the patient is monitored for 1-2 hours at the hospital and then can go home for self-monitoring.

The most prominent advantages of high-frequency burning technique can be mentioned as:
Safety: Safe RFA technique by using alternating current with frequency 300 - 500 MHz. With a preset temperature and time, it will burn and destroy thyroid tumor cells. The procedure is controlled by ultrasound so it is very safe and effective. Aesthetic: Because there is no need for surgery, this technique will not leave scars across the neck, preserving aesthetics. Efficacy: Destroys tumors without damaging healthy thyroid tissue, helping to maximize thyroid preservation. After treatment, the tumor size will decrease by 40-60% after 3 months, 80-90% after 1 year. At the same time, the unpleasant symptoms in the patient will disappear completely. Uncomplicated: Due to the minimal invasiveness, the RFA technique is difficult to damage the laryngeal nerves and parathyroid glands like traditional surgery, and the patient does not have post-operative hypothyroidism. Fast - Reduces hospital stay: Burning time only takes about 10 - 30 minutes, patients only have anesthesia around the thyroid cavity, can be awake to talk to the doctor. After the procedure, the patient only needs to rest, monitor at the hospital for 1-2 hours and can go home, live and work normally.

Indications for radiofrequency ablation with benign thyroid nodules when:
Thyroid nodules large in size from 2 to 3 cm become unsightly protruding the neck Thyroid nodules cause symptoms of neck compression such as difficulty swallowing, Pain, difficulty breathing for patients Thyroid patients have functional (hot core - thyroid toxic nodules), these tumors increase production and secrete more thyroid hormone into the blood, causing thyrotoxicosis.

Thanks to its outstanding advantages, the treatment of thyroid tumors by radiofrequency is applied not only in the treatment of benign nodular goiters but also being initially studied for the treatment of early-stage thyroid cancer and thyroid cancer. local recurrence or lymph node metastasis.

Currently, this technique is successfully deployed and routinely performed at the Thyroid Pathology Center - Vinmec Times City International General Hospital by leading experts with extensive experience in this field. The hospital is equipped with the most modern imaging equipment, typically the GE Healthcare S9 ultrasound machine, the latest generation of the Korean Starmed system, which ensures patients get results. the most optimal treatment.
Thanks to a team of doctors, experts, and modern equipment, the treatment process always achieves good results as well as minimizes risks to the patient's health.
If you have any questions or concerns about thyroid disease, please leave questions for Vinmec doctors right on the website vimec.com for more specific advice.