About Radiofrequency Ablation

Thyroid nodule symptoms often become noticeable when nodules become bigger and affect the organs and tissues around them. Common symptoms include visible swelling in the neck, difficulty swallowing, feeling pressure, or changes in the voice. Radiofrequency ablation can help shrink nodules and improve many of these symptoms.

During RFA, your doctor uses ultrasound on your neck to precisely locate the nodule to be treated, and to consider the important structures around it. They then insert a probe through the skin and into the thyroid nodule. This probe sends out radio waves that heat up the cells in the nodule or tumor, causing the cells to die. Over time, your immune system removes these cells, causing the nodules or tumors to shrink.

Before RFA, your doctor may take a small sample of a nodule (biopsy). This sample will be examined under a microscope to check for thyroid cancer. RFA can be used for noncancerous thyroid nodules as well as some small thyroid cancers. Your doctor will recommend the most appropriate treatment for you.

You don’t need general anesthesia for RFA, but your doctor will use a local numbing agent on the area where they insert the probe. You can go home the same day and can most often return to your regular activities after 24-48 hours. Since RFA doesn’t affect the functioning of your thyroid gland, you usually don’t need to take thyroid replacement medication after the procedure. Minor side effects after RFA may include bruising, swelling, and soreness that subside within a few days.

You may need more than one treatment to fully shrink the nodules. Your doctor will talk to you about how many treatments they anticipate you might need.