Microwave Therapy For Thyroid Nodules
What is the Benign Thyroid Nodules Treatment?
The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland found in both men and women which sits on the front of the neck. The thyroid gland has two side lobes, connected by a bridge (isthmus) in the middle. When the thyroid is normal in size, you can’t feel it.
The thyroid secretes several hormones, collectively called thyroid hormones. Thyroid hormones act throughout the body, influencing metabolism, growth and development, and body temperature.
Thyroid disorders typically occur when this gland releases too many or too few hormones. An overactive or underactive thyroid can lead to a wide range of health problems.
Thyroid nodules are common and found in 20–75 % of the general population. The number, size and symptoms relating to thyroid nodules tend to increase and spoil quality of life as years go on.
Most thyroid nodules are benign, but some benign nodules may require treatment for cosmetic reasons, subjective symptoms or a malignant change.
What are the thyroid nodules Symptoms?
Most thyroid nodules don’t cause signs or symptoms. But occasionally some nodules become so large that they can:
- Be felt.
- Be seen, often as a swelling at the base of your neck
- Press on your windpipe or esophagus, causing shortness of breath or difficulty swallowing.
In some cases, thyroid nodules produce additional thyroxine, a hormone secreted by your thyroid gland. The extra thyroxine can cause symptoms of an overproduction of thyroid hormones (hyperthyroidism), such as:
- Unexplained weight loss
- Increased sweating
- Tremor
- Nervousness
- Rapid or irregular heartbeat
Only a small number of thyroid nodules are cancerous. But determining which nodules are cancerous can’t be done by evaluating your symptoms alone. Most cancerous thyroid nodules are slow growing and may be small when your doctor discovers them. Aggressive thyroid cancers are rare with nodules that may be large, firm, fixed and rapid growing.
Causes for thyroid nodules
- Overgrowth of normal thyroid tissue
- Thyroid cyst
- Chronic inflammation of the thyroid
- Multinodular goiter
- Thyroid cancer
- Iodine deficiency
Treatment of Thyroid Nodules?
Both surgical and Non-surgical procedures are Available to Treat Thyroid Nodules.
Although surgery is curative, it can cause some problems such as long hospitalization, upper airway obstruction, non-esthetic scars, recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy, iatrogenic hypothyroidism and difficulty in re operation.
Therefore, nonsurgical and minimally invasive treatment modalities, such as ethanol ablation, percutaneous laser ablation (LA), radiofrequency ablation (RFA), Microwave Ablation have been used to treat thyroid nodules and yielding good results.
Microwave ablation (MWA) is a minimally invasive technique that has been used to treat benign and malignant tumors of the liver, lung and kidney.
Nonsurgical and minimally invasive treatments have been used to treat benign thyroid nodules, of which microwave ablation (MWA) is newly developed.
MWA is based on thermal injury secondary to heat generated from rotation of water molecules and have several advantages in tumor ablation.
Studies of thyroid MWA demonstrate significant volume reductions and improvement of clinical symptoms. MWA can be a minimally invasive technique with great promise for the treatment of benign thyroid nodules.
What are the advantages of Microwave Therapy for Thyroid Nodules?
Microwave therapy, also known as microwave ablation, is a minimally invasive procedure used to treat thyroid nodules. Here are some potential advantages of microwave therapy for thyroid nodules:
Minimally invasive: Unlike traditional surgery, microwave therapy is a minimally invasive procedure that does not require a surgical incision. Instead, a small probe is inserted into the nodule through the skin under local anesthesia.
Quick procedure: The procedure typically takes less than an hour, and most patients can go home the same day.
Low risk of complications: Microwave therapy has a low risk of complications compared to surgery. There is no risk of damaging the nerves that control the vocal cords or the parathyroid glands, which can lead to voice changes or low calcium levels.
High success rate: Microwave therapy has been shown to be effective in reducing the size of thyroid nodules in many patients, with success rates ranging from 70-90%.
Fast recovery: Patients typically experience minimal discomfort after the procedure and can return to their normal activities within a few days.
Can be repeated: If the nodule is not completely ablated after the first treatment, microwave therapy can be repeated.
Cost-effective: Microwave therapy is generally less expensive than surgery, making it a cost-effective option for many patients.
It is important to note that while microwave therapy has potential advantages, it may not be suitable for all patients with thyroid nodules. Consultation with a qualified healthcare provider is necessary to determine if microwave therapy is a viable option for an individual patient.
