Finding a lump, or nodule, in the thyroid makes many people fear cancer and an operation. Writing in Prothom Alo, Dr Muhammad Abu Bakar, assistant professor and head of endocrinology at Chattogram Maa-O-Shishu Hospital Medical College, says most thyroid nodules are not cancer and not all need surgery. Small nodules that cause no trouble can simply be watched with regular check-ups.
Some nodules grow slowly and cause difficulty swallowing, pressure in the neck, breathlessness or a visible swelling. In such cases heat can be used to shrink the nodule without cutting the neck, a treatment called thermal ablation. Radiofrequency ablation and microwave ablation are the most widely used forms; lasers are used in some cases.
Put simply, a very thin needle-like probe is guided into the nodule under ultrasound, and controlled heat treats a set part of it. The treated tissue is gradually absorbed by the body, so the nodule can shrink considerably over time. Radiofrequency ablation generates the heat with radio waves; microwave ablation with microwave energy.
According to the author, the treatment may suit people whose nodules have been confirmed as non-cancerous but who have symptoms, discomfort or cosmetic concerns. It is generally safe but not free of complications: temporary neck pain, swelling, bruising or clotting can occur, and rarely voice changes, bleeding, infection, skin burns or damage to nearby nerves.
The procedure must therefore be done under ultrasound by a trained and experienced doctor. Radiofrequency and microwave ablation are now available at some centres in Dhaka and Chattogram, and he advises patients to check the doctor's training and experience and the quality of the equipment before treatment.
Source: Prothom Alo
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