Hearing that you have a thyroid nodule can be unsettling. While most thyroid nodules are benign (noncancerous), they can still cause uncomfortable symptoms or become noticeable enough to affect your confidence.
If you have a benign thyroid nodule that’s causing problems, you may not need surgery to find relief. Thyroid radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is a minimally invasive treatment that shrinks thyroid nodules without removing the thyroid gland.
RFA is now available at Northeast Georgia Medical Center through the Endocrine Surgery Center of Excellence — bringing this technology to patients in Northeast Georgia who previously had to travel outside the region for this care.
What is Thyroid Radiofrequency Ablation?
Thyroid radiofrequency ablation, or RFA, is a nonsurgical procedure that uses heat to shrink a benign thyroid nodule from the inside. A small needle is guided into the nodule using ultrasound, where controlled heat destroys the targeted tissue. Over the next several months, the nodule gradually becomes smaller.
Unlike traditional thyroid surgery, RFA doesn’t require an incision or leaves a scar. Because most of the thyroid gland remains untouched, thyroid function is usually preserved, meaning most patients don’t need thyroid hormone medication afterward.
Is RFA right for you?
RFA is appropriate for patients who have a biopsy-confirmed benign thyroid nodule and one or more of the following:
- Pressure, tightness, or discomfort in the neck
- Difficulty swallowing or a sensation of something in the throat
- A nodule that is visible or causing cosmetic concern
- A nodule greater than 2 cm demonstrating growth on surveillance imaging
- Preference to avoid surgery or desire to preserve thyroid function
The best treatment for a thyroid nodule depends on its characteristics, your symptoms, and your goals. Whether RFA is the right choice for you is a decision made together with your surgeon at your consultation.
What to expect
RFA is performed in the operating room under moderate sedation and ultrasound guidance. You will be comfortable throughout the procedure but will not require general anesthesia or a breathing tube.
A small needle electrode is precisely positioned within the nodule under ultrasound guidance. Heat from the tip destroys nodule tissue progressively, shrinking it over the weeks and months following treatment. The procedure typically takes under an hour.
After the procedure, you will be monitored briefly and discharged the same day. Most patients experience mild soreness or swelling for a few days. Thyroid hormone medication is not required afterward in most cases. A follow-up ultrasound is scheduled to assess nodule response.
How effective is it?
Clinical data consistently shows nodule volume reduction of 50 to 80 percent following RFA, with significant improvement in symptoms and cosmetic appearance.
The majority of treated nodules remain small long-term. In the uncommon event of regrowth, repeat treatment is an option.
NGMC’s Endocrine Surgery Center of Excellence
Thyroid RFA procedures are performed at NGMC Gainesville, through the Endocrine Surgery Center of Excellence. NGMC Gainesville was the first in the state (and one of the first few in the world) to obtain this accreditation from the Surgical Review Corporation.
For more information about Endocrine Surgery at NGMC Gainesville, click here.