Outpatient laser surgery may soon become a common treatment for benign thyroid nodules, which affect millions of women around the world.At the April 2006 annual meeting of the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE), Roberto Valcavi, MD, Director of the Thyroid Disease Center in Reggio Emilia, Italy reported on his Center's use of this new treatment.
According to Valcavi, treatment of thyroid nodules with the thyroid hormone replacement drug levothyroxine, the traditional treatment for nodules, has been shown to be ineffective in numerous studies. The other popular approach, removal of part of all of the thyroid surgically, can have some complications, including hypocalcemia or damage to vocal cords.
Valcavi reported on a study of 119 women who underwent the new procedure. In laser treatment, optic fibers are placed alongside the nodule using ultrasound guidance, and then illuminated with a laser.
Patients received light sedation (i.e., Valium), and the procedure typically took 30 minutes. This is compared to traditional surgery, which involves general anesthesia, and requires at least an hour.
Both types of surgery have the potential for nerve damage, but it's less common in the laser surgery.
Source: Doctor's Guide
Int J Cancer. 2006 Apr 26; [Epub ahead of print] Related Articles, Links
Self-reported goiter is associated with a significantly increased risk of gastric noncardia adenocarcinoma in a large population-based Chinese cohort.
Abnet CC, Fan JH, Kamangar F, Sun XD, Taylor PR, Ren JS, Mark SD, Zhao P, Fraumeni JF Jr, Qiao YL, Dawsey SM.
Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD.
Iodine is concentrated by the gastric mucosa, where it may act as an antioxidant. Therefore, iodine deficiency, and its sequelae goiter, may be associated with an increased risk of gastric cancer. We examined the association between self-reported goiter and upper gastrointestinal cancer in a Chinese cohort of 29,584 adults. Using multivariate adjusted Cox models, we found goiter associated with a significantly increased risk of gastric noncardia adenocarcinoma, HR (95% CI) 2.04 (1.01, 4.11) and nonsignificantly with gastric cardia adenocarcinoma, HR (95% CI) 1.45 (0.91, 2.30). We also found a borderline, insignificant increased risk of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, HR (95% CI) 1.37 (0.97, 1.94). Our findings are consistent with the hypothesis that iodine deficiency is associated with an increased risk of gastric cancer. Published 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
I flew to this Italian doc from Los Angeles and he was able to laser my 3 nodules.
hi i wud like to know if in mauritius laser thyroid nodule surgery is done . how much it cost and where it is done
How are you doing two years later? I am thinking of flying over there for laser ablation of my thyroid nodules.
Who is this doctor is Los Angeles? How do I contact the doc to plan the laser surgery?
MY NODULE IS GROWING I WOULD LIKE TO
KNOW MORE ABOUT LASER SURGERY . LAST
YEAR 3CM NOW IT COVERS RIGHT SIDE.
WILL AMERICAN INSURANCE COVER IF I HAVE TO GO TO ITALY. HELP
I’m scheduled for radiation treatment for my 9 benign, but growing nodules. I’m scared, and would like to know more about the laser treatment. One of my nodules is growing ‘in’ – anybody????
Did you ever get the laser surgery??
Please reply.
Thanks
Ali
I just received a biopsy on my 3 thyroid nodules and am awaiting the results. How do I contact this doctor for laser surgery if needed?
Thanks
KAJ
I would really like to know how much it cost to do the laser surgery. I am planning to have a baby and I was told if I have thyroid problem it is risky. I might have miscarriage, premature birth, intellectual development of the baby is affected. I do not want that to happen. Please help me find a good doctor and an estimate so I can prepare for it. I do not have insurance right now. Thank you.
Please help me how much it will cost for this laser technology if I go this Italian doc? I have a enlargement of my left thyroid Nodule.Is this technology available now in the Philippines? Thanks for the help that you can provide me.
How, where do I find a Dr. in the US that does this laser procedure. I am facing complete thryroid removal soon.
Chris
Great to hear this about the laser surgery. I asked my doctor at Medical center in SF, Ca. and they said there was no such treatment for thyroids.
im suffering from hyperthyroidism for four years, please advice how can i get this treatmetn, i with to treat my hyperthyroidism via laser, im from Kathmandu Nepal, please help me in this reard
my mom has hyperthyroidism and advise for a laser, what are possible complications of this procedure. is it safe
may i know how much will it cost me if i will undergo laser surgery?Please reply me as soon as possible i don’t have insurance.
I have 2 nodules in my throat of abt 3-4 cm. i would like to know if you know where in the indian ocean in which country can laser surgery be performed.very very urgent!!pls help
Mauritius
PLease somebody can tell me how to get in touch with this Dr for the laser Thyroid nodule , I have a 4 cm nodule & I have been waiting 5 years to see if they do something better than the traditional surgery.
Hi, I have a thyroid nodule around 4 cm, (big), & I dont have to go under the tradicional surgery , can somebody tell me how to get in touch with this Dr.
Large thyroid nodule could be treated by radiofrequency ablation, whihc has been used for variable tumors.
Is there anywhere in the United States where this is done?
I live in Los Angeles and have a large nodule on my thyroid and my doctor is recommending thyroid removal. I would really like to know if anyone has done the laser removal and who the Italian doctor in LA is. Please.
Why would I want the surgery if the nodules if they
are the result of a condition that continues to cultivate cells resulting in the growth of more nodules? ….unless they are becoming invasive and interfering with normal functioning of the area???
Wouldn’t someone like me with Hashimotos be simply walking a treadmill of repetitive procedures?
i am 23yrs old. i have a 1cm nodule on my right thyroid. how much does the laser surgery would cost here in the philippines? i am planning to go abroad for work i’m just waiting for my visa. is drinking beer/any alcoholic drink will aggravate my nodule? please help me.
I have a nodule on my neck,ve gone for thyroid test and it was stated that I have u-thyroid which is normal but the nodule has to be removed surgically
Now dat I’ve learnt of this procedure,hw do I get it and hw much will it cost.
I will be in london next week can I get a refferal so I can get it out of the way as it is becoming embarrasing.
Urgent response is needed.
Thanks
i have a benign noduke in right neck about 3.25 cm.
can i go for laser surgery without general aneshasia (GA). IF POSSIBLE PLS CONFIRM WHERE TO CONTACT FOR THAT.
THANKS/ BADAL
I can not find a number for the doc in italy that does the laser surgery for benign nodules. Do you have it? Also the doctors in LA and orange County, ca, in south carolina and at john hopkins only want to take out the thyroid! I don’t want it out if no cancer. I have a fax number to the white house. Think writting letters might help bring medicine into the 21st century in this country?
Are there any doctors in the U.S. who do the laser surgery for benign thryroid nodules?? In England or Canada??
Please reply
Thanks
Ali
Is there any laser treatment for thyroid here in the Philippines? Can you enumerate some medical city who offer this treatment? And how much could be the cost of the laser treatment….hoping for your kind response…tnx =)
Hi all,
here in Italy there are many hospitals where you can find laser treatment procedures for benign thyroid nodule reduction. The procedure is easy to perform without general anesthesia in a outpatient room, monitorized by ultrasound, last less then half an hour and then you can go home after a general health check-up . Then your nodule starts to decrease in volume up to 60-70% in volume. Great technology!!!
Hi I would like to ask if laser is also for hyperthyroidism/ toxic? whats the effect after? Where is in Manila located were they is laser treated? Coz I want mine to be done ASAP thanks
Please provide the doctor info in USA, preferably in New York, who can do laser treatment to remove the thyroid nodule. I already have three on my neck and its growing fast. I watched a program on TV about this procedure that is very safe and efficient. This outpatient procedure is very common in Europe and Russia.
U.s. only recommends removal. I am doing research and will send details if I can find on the laser surgery for thyroid
Ablation is not available or practiced anywhere in the USA right now. It is standard procedure in many countries in Europe.
Hi all,
I would like to explain what laser ablation on thyroid consists of. Maybe it would be useful for some talk or just as information.
Ultrasound guided percutaneous laser ablation consists of percutaneous insertion of very thin optic fibers (from 1 to 3 depending on the nodule volume), and the delivery of laser energy for a few minutes heating the tissue until it is destroyed. The planning of the treatment, the inserting of the needles, and the monitoring are all guided by ultrasound.
Laser ablation is a mini-invasive procedure for treating benign thyroid lesions such as cold or single nodules in multi-nodular goitre. Results are a progressive nodule reduction with improvement of symptoms in the neck.
Main adavantages are:
short treatment times (about 30 minutes, including patient-preparation); No total anestesia only conscious sedation; Day-hospital procedure; good aesthetic results (no scars); thin needles not traumatic for neck structures (21-22G); compressive symptoms reduction; no compromising of further therapeutic actions.
Hope I was helpful.