SKMC Successfully Conducts Laser Ablation Of Thyroid Nodule

ABU DHABI, 21st October, 2022 (WAM) -- Doctors at Sheikh Khalifa Medical City (SKMC), part of the Abu Dhabi Health Services Company (SEHA), successfully conducted laser ablation of benign (non-cancerous) thyroid nodules in a 48-year-old woman.
The minimally invasive procedure has helped the patient avoid surgery for the removal of the thyroid gland and spared her from a lifelong dependency on medications to maintain normal metabolism.

Palpable thyroid nodules occur in about 4 to 7 percent of the population (10 to 18 million persons). A thyroid nodule is a palpable swelling in the thyroid gland with an otherwise normal appearance. They are common and may be caused by a variety of thyroid disorders. While most are benign, about 5 percent of all palpable nodules are cancerous.

The patient had three nodules at the right of her thyroid gland and three at the left. She had been following up at the ENT department every six months for observation, ultrasound, and other tests to monitor the size of the nodules. However, in her last follow-up, doctors noticed an enlargement of one of the nodules, and the ENT surgeon suggested laser ablation.

Laser ablation is a procedure to reduce the size of benign thyroid nodules that are symptomatic. It may cause difficulty in breathing, swallowing, neck discomfort, or foreign body sensation, or the procedure may be performed for cosmetic reasons.

Elaborating on the procedure, Dr. Shaik Irfan Basha, Consultant Otorhinolaryngology and Head & Neck Surgery, and the Chair of the Department of Surgery, SKMC, said,“This technique is performed while the patient is conscious, under local anesthesia. A thin needle, less than 1 millimeter in diameter, is inserted into the target thyroid nodule under ultrasound guidance.

Speaking further about the procedure, Dr. Basha said,“Laser ablation therapy for benign thyroid nodules is a relatively new, non-surgical procedure that is effective, reproducible, generally well tolerated and has a very low risk of major complications. Our thyroid is a vital organ that regulates metabolism, growth, and development. Laser ablation allows us to preserve the organ.”

Additionally, the procedure can also be ideal for certain patients who refuse to undergo partial or complete surgical removal of the thyroid gland out of concern of long-life consumption of levothyroxine that cannot completely replace the function of the thyroid gland.

The patient said,“I was thrilled when Dr. Basha informed me that I will be the first candidate at SKMC to undergo laser ablation of the nodules. I was relieved that I wouldn't have to undergo surgery or have my thyroid gland removed. Now, I do not need any medication, nor do I have any scars on my neck. I am truly grateful to the doctors and the entire team at SKMC.'

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