Thyroid Nodules: When to Worry and How Interventional Radiology Can Help

Thyroid Nodules: When to Worry and How Interventional Radiology Can Help

Apollo Hospitals, Karnataka, has garnered a widespread reputation for offering world-class healthcare for a plethora of health conditions and emergencies, powered by cutting-edge technology and advanced medical facilities.

The incidence of thyroid diseases and cancers among adults and adolescents has increased significantly over the past years. Thyroid nodules may appear occasionally and may or may not exhibit any symptoms, making it hard to seek prompt diagnosis. However, the good news is that even larger ones are treatable with appropriate surgical intervention.

Understanding Thyroid Nodules: Incidence & Symptoms

Thyroid nodules are growths in the thyroid gland. It is quite common among adults but less common among teens and children. Some thyroid nodules can be solid, while others can be fluid-filled cysts. Sometimes, some thyroid nodules can be a combination of both. Almost 95% of these growths are benign (non-cancerous), but a small percentage of them can be cancerous. When children and adolescents have thyroid nodules, they’re more likely to be cancerous than not.

In some cases, thyroid nodules can develop asymptomatically until they become large enough to press against surrounding tissues and organs or become visible in the neck. Sometimes, the nodules may affect hormone production of the thyroid and lead to symptoms of under-active (hypothyroidism) or overactive thyroid gland (hyperthyroidism).

Depending on the underlying cause and type of nodules formed in the thyroid gland, people may experience:

• Swallowing difficulties
• Hoarseness in voice or changes in their voice
• Swelling or lump at the back of the throat, which may or may not cause pain
• Neck pressure or fullness
• Cold intolerance
• Anxiety
• Sudden and rapid weight loss
• Irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia)
• Fatigue
• Swelling in the face

When to Worry about Thyroid Nodules?

While a vast majority of the thyroid nodules are non-cancerous, a small percentage of them can still be cancerous. If a doctor has concerns that a patient has cancerous growths in their thyroid, they may recommend watchful waiting to see if it grows.

An ultrasound scan of the neck and thyroid may be required to determine the size and features of the thyroid nodules. This information can help doctors in understanding the need for further investigation into thyroid nodules and devising treatment options for appropriate management. A thyroid fine needle aspiration biopsy under the guidance of Interventional Radiologists can help retrieve a sample of cells from the growths in the thyroid that will help obtain more information about the nature and behaviour of the thyroid nodules.

Interventional Radiology for Diagnosis of Thyroid Nodules

Today, many conditions and diseases affecting the thyroid can be accurately diagnosed and treated with the help of interventional radiology procedures. Minimally invasive and targeted procedures can shrink lesions and growths, rendering them harmless and non-functional.

Fine needle aspiration biopsy for thyroid nodules is considered to be the gold standard of diagnostic approach owing to its reliability, safety, and high tolerance by patients, along with the low costs associated with the procedure. It is usually performed under ultrasound guidance, allowing interventional radiologists to have real-time control over the needle that can help avoid impacting the surrounding vascular structures.

Interventional Radiology Procedures to Treat Thyroid Nodules

The treatment for thyroid nodules is dependent on the type and cause of the nodules. Sometimes, doctors may recommend watchful waiting along with follow-up checkups, or may recommend medications to restore normal thyroid function. While surgical intervention may be recommended if the thyroid nodules are too large, endoscopic procedures and minimally invasive procedures are used for smaller thyroid nodules or smaller masses.

Percutaneous Ethanol Injection (PEI)

This is a minimally invasive interventional radiology procedure that introduces ethanol into targeted tissues, leading to an inflammatory response that constricts blood flow to the nodules, causing them to shrink. Treatment of thyroid nodules using PEI is common for solid nodules and cysts when alternative therapies are less desirable or to destroy papillary lymph nodes that have become cancerous. In some cases, repeated PEI may be required.

Laser Thermal Ablation

Laser thermal ablation, also called fiber optic thermal ablation, is another minimally invasive technique that can not only help treat cancerous lymph nodes but also diminish the size of symptomatic thyroid nodules. This treatment technique can also be used for benign thyroid nodules to reduce their sizes without affecting thyroid function. This treatment uses targeted lasers to deliver heat to the nodules, causing necrosis or tissue death. This leads to scar tissue formation (fibrosis) and eventually reduces the size of the thyroid nodules.

Radio Frequency Ablation (RFA)

Radio frequency ablation is yet another minimally invasive interventional radiology technique that is used as an alternative to treat benign thyroid nodules. It is a relatively newer approach that is quite similar to laser thermal ablation and can also be used to treat bone and abdominal tumours. The RFA procedure is used to treat symptom-causing benign thyroid nodules or recurrent cancerous foci.

Thyroidectomy

Thyroidectomy is the surgical procedure to remove a part of the entire thyroid gland through an incision made on the inside of the lower lip of the patient. If a doctor recommends removal of the thyroid gland through thyroidectomy, patients may not even need to worry about a scar as scarless thyroid procedures are possible for many.

The decision about whether to employ interventional radiology techniques for a patient’s thyroid nodules is jointly made in consultation with the patient by a team of endocrinologists and interventional radiologists. In most cases, interventional radiology procedures performed for treating various thyroid conditions are performed on an outpatient basis. Since interventional radiology procedures are minimally invasive, patients require less time for recovery and healing, allowing them to be released from the hospital on the same day as the treatment.

Treating Thyroid Nodules at Apollo Hospitals, Karnataka

Patients with thyroid and parathyroid conditions, including tumours, nodules, and over or under-activity of the gland, can rely on the expertise of our care team at Apollo Hospitals, Karnataka. Our team of specialists, which consists of endocrinologists, is supported by imaging and diagnostic experts, offering medical and surgical management of your thyroid issues with compassionate and personalised care. We strive to provide the best and the most advanced therapies for thyroid conditions and diseases with top-notch medical facilities and state-of-the-art equipment.

Consult our best endocrinology specialists for compassionate, patient-centric healthcare at Apollo Hospitals, Karnataka.