{"id":1258,"date":"2020-10-27T16:40:01","date_gmt":"2020-10-27T20:40:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.saintjohnscancer.org\/endocrine\/?page_id=1258"},"modified":"2024-08-08T20:34:09","modified_gmt":"2024-08-09T00:34:09","slug":"thyroid-radiofrequency-ablation","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.saintjohnscancer.org\/endocrine\/diagnosis-and-treatment\/thyroid-radiofrequency-ablation\/","title":{"rendered":"Thyroid Radiofrequency Ablation"},"content":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":null,"protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":0,"parent":47,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_relevanssi_hide_post":"","_relevanssi_hide_content":"","_relevanssi_pin_for_all":"","_relevanssi_pin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_unpin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_include_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_exclude_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_no_append":"","_relevanssi_related_not_related":"","_relevanssi_related_posts":"","_relevanssi_noindex_reason":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-1258","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":{"layers":[{"acf_fc_layout":"layer_content_image","layer_label":"","layer_headline":"Thyroid Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA) for Benign Thyroid Nodules","layer_content":"

Thyroid nodules, even when benign (non-cancerous), can grow visibly large and cause swallowing or breathing difficulties, persistent cough, and hoarseness. Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA) and Microwave Ablation (WMA) are a non-surgical treatment option that can reduce the size of thyroid nodules and restore thyroid function. RFA and MWA are minimally-invasive technique performed by an endocrine surgeon guided by ultrasound imaging. The physician delivers targeted radio waves that disrupts the nodule’s cells, causing them to shrink as the body absorbs the ablated tissue. <\/p>\n","layer_link":"","layer_img":1311,"layer_img_position":"right","layer_img_size":"cover","layer_img_is_fade":false,"layer_background_color":"","layer_id":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"layer_content_sidebar","layer_label":"","layer_headline":"","layer_intro":"","layer_content":"

Thyroid Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA) and Microwave Ablation (MWA) for small thyroid cancers<\/h2>\n

Most micropapillary (under 1 cm) thyroid cancers are slow growing, and very low risk. Your doctor will generally discuss three treatment options with you, depending on the specific ultrasound characteristics of your cancer. <\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Thyroid Lobectomy: we remove the half of thyroid that contains the cancer. <\/li>\n
  2. Active Surveillance: we keep an eye on your tumor with regular ultrasounds to make sure it does not grow or change (do not operate). <\/li>\n
  3. Thermal Ablation with RFA or MWA: we perform a very short RFA or MWA procedure in the clinic with the goal of ablating the entire tumor plus a little of the surrounding normal tissue. We monitor your cancer with regular ultrasounds and expect the cancer to disappear over time. <\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Why Choose RFA or MWA instead of surgery?<\/h3>\n

    Thyroid RFA or MWA are non-surgical treatments for thyroid nodules. It greatly reduces the need for nodule surgery and the use of Radioactive Iodine (RAI). While surgery results in a visible scar, the RFA or MWA procedure is minimally invasive and a safe and relatively quick treatment option. RFA and MWA enable patients to resume normal daily activity immediately with minimal recovery time.\u00a0While surgery may involve removing part of the thyroid, RFA maintains thyroid integrity, which supports improved thyroid function.<\/p>\n

    RFA and MWA have been proven to reduce the size of thyroid nodules.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
    2019 RFA Published Findings for Thyroid – Rate of Nodule Reduction According to Size1<\/sup><\/strong><\/p>\n
    <\/caption>\n
    <\/th>\n6 months<\/th>\n1 year<\/th>\n2 years<\/th>\n3 years<\/th>\n4 years<\/th>\n5 years<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
    \u00a0All nodules<\/td>\n56.2%*<\/td>\n\u00a063%*<\/td>\n\u00a067.4%*<\/td>\n\u00a066.7%<\/td>\n\u00a066.9%<\/td>\n\u00a066.9%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    \u00a0Less than 10 mL in size<\/td>\n\u00a079%*<\/td>\n\u00a078%<\/td>\n\u00a076.8%<\/td>\n\u00a076.8%<\/td>\n\u00a075%<\/td>\n\u00a081.8%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Greater than 10 and less than 20 mL in size<\/td>\n\u00a059%*<\/td>\n\u00a066.7%*<\/td>\n\u00a074.2%*<\/td>\n\u00a074.2%<\/td>\n\u00a070%<\/td>\n\u00a074.5%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    \u00a0Greater than 20 mL in size<\/td>\n\u00a054.5%*<\/td>\n\u00a060.9%*<\/td>\n\u00a062.4%*<\/td>\n\u00a062.4%<\/td>\n\u00a062%<\/td>\n\u00a065.3%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

    *Rate of reduction was calculated with respect to the baseline volume.<\/p>\n

    The term radiofrequency (RF) refers to an alternating electric current oscillating between 200 kHz and 1200 kHz. Application of radiofrequency in a medical setting agitates tissue ions as they attempt to follow the changes in direction of the alternating current, thereby creating frictional heat around the electrode. The heat generated from the emitter affects the immediate tissue, which is only within a few millimeters of the electrode tip. RF has been used as a medical treatment successfully for many parts of the body including the spine, liver, colon, and prostate.<\/p>\n

    The term Microwave (MW) refers to electromagnetic waves that move water molecules, causing friction and heat that in turn destroys neighboring tissue and tumor cells.MW has been used as a medical treatment successfully for many parts of the body including the liver, lung, and bone. <\/p>\n

    Listen to Dr. Melanie Goldfarb discuss RFA for Thyroid<\/h3>\n