The Centro Hospitalar de Vila Nova de Gaia/Espinho (CHVNG/E), which since 2021 has been performing thermoablation of the thyroid gland, a non-surgical method for the treatment of nodes, has already begun procedures for malignant pathology, Lusa was described this Wednesday.
“We have already treated two thyroid carcinomas and two lesions of uncertain significance. [lesões que a biópsia não consegue dizer com certeza se é uma lesão maligna ou não] and in these cases, the usual treatment is surgery, but there are patients who refuse or who have no surgical indication, hence the advantage of this method,” described Teresa Dionisio, Interventional Radiologist at CHVNG/E.
In a conversation with the Lusa agency on the eve of World Thyroid Day, which is celebrated on Thursday, the doctor spoke about the progress of this hospital center, which was a “pioneer” in the application of a technique that is still little used in Portugal and which was imported from the Orient .
This is a non-surgical procedure called thyroid thermoablation.
Teresa Dionisio described that “the antenna is placed [nome técnico que na prática consiste numa agulha] inside the lesion, which is connected to the generator, which causes an increase in temperature, which leads to the destruction of the node.
“This is a non-surgical method for destroying thyroid nodules. This method has been used for years in organs such as the liver, lungs, kidneys, bones, and recently there are smaller antennas that allow us to treat with more dexterity in a sensitive area such as the neck,” he described.
CHVNG/E has been performing microwave thermal ablation of thyroid nodules since June 2021, having already treated 85 nodules, of which two papillary carcinomas (BethesdaVI), two follicular lesions of uncertain significance (Bethesda III) and 81 benign nodules (Bethesda II).
The patients who have benefited from this “innovative technique” range from 14 to 84 years of age.
Data sent to Lusa by this hospital shows that there are 26 patients in CHVNG/E with full “follow-up”, ie 12 months follow-up.
According to Teresa Dionisio, this technique proves to be “important in the treatment of special situations where the patient does not have an indication for surgery.”
As an example, the doctor reported that one of the patients who had a malignant pathology also had another cancer, lung carcinoma, and was undergoing chemotherapy, therefore without indication for thyroid surgery, despite the presence of malignant thyroid disease.
“A year later, after ‘follow-up’, we found that he still did not have thyroid disease,” he added.
Also, “candidates” for the use of this technique are patients with other diseases of the heart or respiratory organs, who cannot afford general anesthesia.
“Because this method only uses local anesthesia, it is an excellent alternative for many patients,” added the CHVNG/E interventional radiologist, recalling cases of patients who refuse surgery or who, due to their advanced age, believe that it will not benefit from surgery. .
“This method is still very little used in Portugal, but is already being used frequently in other countries. The difficulty is getting started and proving that it is safe. [em Gaia] we managed to take these first steps almost two years ago. We are confident that the method is safe and effective, and we have noticed that over time we receive more and more patients referred by endocrinologists, surgeons and family doctors,” he concluded.
Author: Portuguese
Source: CM Jornal
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