Medicine is one of the fastest developing fields in the world today. Progress can be seen from the introduction of modern pharmaceuticals to the innovative technologies that save the health and lives of patients. One of these modern, fully safe technologies is thermoablation using the Echolaser device. This technology is used in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia or some changes in the liver. It is also a new method of treating benign nodular changes in the thyroid gland, which is an alternative to traditional surgery.
What is the thyroid gland and what functions is it responsible for in the body? Why do nodules form in the thyroid parenchyma? What are the methods of treating thyroid nodules and what are they characterized by?
The questions will be answered by Dr. Piotr Paul, who performs fine-needle biopsy procedures in the thyroid gland and around the neck, as well as thermoablation of thyroid nodules with the innovative Echolaser method, at the Alfamedica Medical Center in Częstochowa.
The thyroid gland is the largest endocrine gland in the human body. Responsible for the production of hormones that affect many metabolic and thermoregulatory processes. The thyroid gland is located in the neck area, consists of two lobes and isthmus, the flesh of which is physiologically homogeneous. It happens, however, that abnormal structures called nodules form within the structure of an organ.
– Doctor, often endocrinology clinic patients, during ultrasound examination, find out that the doctor has detected a change in the thyroid gland, the so-called lump. How do these types of changes arise, and should they be a cause for concern?
bow. Piotr Paul, Alfamedica: A healthy thyroid parenchyma is characterized by a homogeneous structure. It happens, however, that changes, called nodules, develop within an organ. Many factors contribute to the emergence of this type of change. Hormonal disorders related to puberty, pregnancy, autoimmune diseases, and smoking can have a direct impact on the formation of nodules within the thyroid parenchyma. However, the most common cause is chronic iodine deficiency in the body. Iodine is an element necessary for the proper functioning of this gland, and many patients omit products rich in this microelement in their daily diet.
Fortunately, the vast majority of thyroid nodules are benign. However, this does not change the fact that if the change in the ultrasound examination is of concern to the doctor, is relatively large and its diameter exceeds 1 cm, a fine needle biopsy should be performed in the patient. Such diagnostics is necessary in order to answer the question whether the nodule is benign or malignant.
– Doctor, what are the methods of treating changes in the thyroid gland?
bow. Piotr Paul, Alfamedica: The treatment method is always selected individually for a given case. If the nodules are small, they do not cause discomfort, in the form of pressure on the trachea or adjacent vessels, and do not disturb the swallowing function or deformation of the contours of the neck, most often an endocrinologist will recommend observation, follow-up ultrasound examinations, and pharmacological treatment.
However, if the nodules press on adjacent tissues, cause problems with swallowing or breathing (the enlarged gland may directly press on the trachea, esophagus and blood vessels), the doctor may decide to remove part of the gland or, if necessary, the entire thyroid gland.
– Doctor, is surgery the only treatment option in this case?
bow. Piotr Paul, Alfamedica: Until recently, surgery was the only option to remove large, benign lesions in the thyroid parenchyma. It often resulted in postoperative scars and the need to take hormonal drugs for the rest of their lives, which had an impact on the patient’s body.
Today, new technologies allow us to perform the procedure in a non-invasive manner. An example of such an optimal, patient-safe solution is the treatment of thyroid tumors with the new, innovative Echolaser technology.
– What is this method characterized by and how does the procedure with Echolaser equipment look like?
bow. Piotr Paul, Alfamedica: Echolaser is a device which, using the phenomenon of thermoablation, leads to the destruction and thus shrinkage of the lesion, without damaging the healthy, adjacent tissues. The procedure itself is short (it takes about 30 minutes, depending on the size of the lesion). Its advantage is remarkable precision. The specialist, under real-time ultrasound control, introduces optical fibers through the skin into the diseased tissue. The emitted light energy causes an increase in temperature within the lesion, resulting in the phenomenon of thermal ablation, shrinkage of the lesion and its destruction. Fiber optic fiber is inserted percutaneously with very thin needles, so after the treatment there are no unsightly scars, and the convalescence time is very short. The patient does not require staying in the hospital, he is discharged home the same day, and basically the next day he can return to his daily duties. The treatment significantly improves the patient’s quality of life and reduces unsightly visual changes in the neck area. Moreover, in most cases, due to the fact that the thyroid gland has not been completely removed, the patient does not have to take hormonal drugs for the rest of his life.
– Doctor, is the procedure using the Echolaser technology as effective as the standard surgery?
bow. Piotr Paul, Alfamedica: Yes, the procedure is just as effective, and at the same time much safer and less invasive. Of course, not every patient who is recommended for surgery will be eligible for an echolaser. This requires meeting certain criteria, for example confirming that the change is mild. However, in those situations where we can use echolaser, it is definitely a less invasive method than the classic approach. It does not affect the adjacent tissues, and therefore carries a low risk of complications. Its advantage over the surgical approach is also the fact that it can be performed under local anesthesia. This means that, in contrast to the surgical approach, we can offer treatment to patients who have contraindications to general anesthesia, e.g. with a pacemaker.
This method is gaining popularity not only in the treatment of thyroid nodules. It also has great results in the non-invasive treatment of an enlarged prostate gland or changes in the liver. At the same time, further research is being carried out, because the technology may be an opportunity to create a more precise and less invasive approach in the treatment of neoplastic changes in other areas.
Alfamedica Silesia North Medical Center
ul. Kilinskiego 166
42-218 Częstochowa
www.alfamedica.med.pl
www.wylecztarczyce.pl
www.wyleczprostate.pl
The article was written in cooperation with Stadler Media