Thyroid ablation therapy is used for benign thyroid nodules. The procedure involves inserting a fine needle through the skin of the neck to burn and ablate the thyroid nodule. The patient remains awake during the procedure, which is performed under local anesthesia, and there is no pain. No incision is made on the skin, and general anesthesia is not used for sedation.

What are the differences between thyroid ablation and thyroid surgery?

Thyroid surgery is performed under general anesthesia with a surgical incision. After the surgery, the patient typically requires a hospital stay, and the healing of the wound on the neck takes time. Additionally, some patients may need to take thyroid hormone medication for life after the surgery.
In contrast, thyroid ablation is done under ultrasound guidance, where the nodule is treated with just a fine needle. The entire procedure is monitored via ultrasound, and complications are rare. Only the nodule is treated, leaving the remaining thyroid tissue intact, which is sufficient for the patient.

What are the advantages of thyroid ablation?

• No general anesthesia is required; only local anesthesia is sufficient.
• The patient does not feel pain during the procedure. If the patient prefers, light sedation can be used.
• The patient is typically discharged the same day after the procedure.
• There is no visible scar on the neck; only a small needle mark will remain, which fades over time.
• Since only the nodule is treated, the healthy parts of the thyroid gland remain unaffected, preserving its function. As a result, the patient does not need lifelong thyroid hormone medication.