Thyroid nodules can cause various issues such as a sensation of pressure in the throat, difficulty swallowing, or cosmetic concerns. Today, it is possible to treat these nodules without surgical intervention. Especially with interventional radiology methods like Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA) and Microwave Ablation (MWA), patients can return to their daily lives in a short time. In very large nodules, surgery may be a better option, but if the patient is not suitable for surgery, we also have embolization in this group.
Don’t Be Intimidated by Large Nodules Anymore
Prof. Dr. Özgür Kılıçkesmez states that both RFA and MWA can be safely applied to benign thyroid nodules that have reached significant sizes, cause compressive symptoms (e.g., difficulty swallowing, discomfort in the neck), or create cosmetic issues:
“These treatments significantly reduce nodule volume and provide comfort to patients without surgical scars, general anesthesia, or a long recovery process. Particularly in autonomously functioning (hyperthyroidism‑causing) thyroid nodules, RFA and MWA yield effective results in normalizing hormone levels.”
Effectiveness and Safety: What Do the Data Say?
Volume Reduction Ratio (VRR): Meta‑analyses show that MWA achieves an 83.6% volume reduction at 12 months, while RFA offers an 81.6% reduction.
Improvement in Symptoms and Appearance: After the procedure, patients’ symptom scores decrease from 4 to 1.5, and cosmetic scores improve from 3 to 1. This indicates a significant increase in both quality of life and satisfaction with appearance.
Complication Rates: Both methods are generally considered safe. Some studies report complication rates of 19.9% for MWA and 16.4% for RFA, although most complications are minor and temporary.
Success Rate: At six months post‑treatment, success rates are reported as 99% for MWA and 97% for RFA.
Procedure Time: On average, MWA is 1.56 minutes shorter than RFA, which enhances patient comfort during the procedure.
Painless and Brief Procedure
RFA and MWA procedures are usually performed under local anesthesia. Although the duration varies depending on the number and size of nodules, many patients can be discharged one hour after the procedure. Prof. Dr. Kılıçkesmez emphasizes that aside from mild neck pain or temporary discomfort, the likelihood of serious side effects is very low:
“Thanks to the comfort provided by these non‑surgical methods, patients do not experience large incisions in the neck or long hospital stays. They can almost immediately resume their daily activities.”
Successful Results in AFTN Patients
Autonomously functioning thyroid nodules (AFTN) can cause hyperthyroidism by secreting excess hormones. Thermal ablation methods effectively reduce the volume of these nodules and regulate thyroid hormone levels. Research shows that RFA and MWA significantly improve therapeutic outcomes in this patient group as well.
What Do Patients Say?
Studies report that patients who have undergone RFA and MWA have very high satisfaction levels in terms of quality and comfort. Symptom relief and elimination of cosmetic concerns help patients quickly adapt to social life.
Physician Supervision and Accurate Diagnosis Are Crucial
Finally, Prof. Dr. Özgür Kılıçkesmez emphasizes that not all thyroid nodules are the same and that treatment must be planned by a specialist physician:
“The most appropriate treatment should be chosen based on factors such as the nodule’s structure, size, location, and the patient’s overall health. Interventional radiology offers a safe and effective alternative at this point. Learning about non‑surgical ablation methods before considering surgery can provide a great advantage for patients.”
Prof. Dr. Özgür Kılıçkesmez graduated from Cerrahpaşa Medical Faculty in 1997. He completed his specialization at Istanbul Education and Research Hospital. He received training in interventional radiology and oncology in London. He founded the interventional radiology department at Istanbul Çam and Sakura City Hospital and became a professor in 2020. He holds many international awards and certificates, has over 150 scientific publications, and has been cited more than 1500 times. He is currently working at Medicana Ataköy Hospital.
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