Thyroid Nodules

A thyroid nodule arises from an abnormal growth of cells within the thyroid gland. While most cases of thyroid nodules are benign, the possibility of cancer must still be considered. For benign nodules, we provide Radiofrequency Ablation as a form of non-surgical treatment.


Dr Thomas Ho

Senior Consultant Endocrine Surgeon
Thyroid Cancer Specialist
MBBS(Sydney), MMed(Surg), AFRCS(Ireland), FRCS(Edinburgh), FAMS(General Surgery)

What are thyroid nodules ?

The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped organ located on the front of your neck, just under the Adam’s apple. The thyroid is responsible for producing hormones that regulate functions in our body, such as heart functions, digestion and body temperature.

When the thyroid overgrows, it can result in an unusual lump or nodule to form. This could be due to an overgrowth of fluid-filled cysts, inflammation or mere thyroid tissue.

Thyroid nodules tend to occur more in women and older individuals. While they are usually benign (non-cancerous), the possibility of cancer must always be taken into consideration when detected.

Common signs

Many patients with thyroid nodules do not have symptoms and their condition is usually diagnosed by chance. However, these patients usually have noticeable lumps in the front portion of their necks together with some of these symptoms:

  • Discomfort or difficulty with swallowing or breathing
  • Voice change or hoarseness
  • Pain in the neck
  • Goiter

Diagnosis and treatment

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Frequently asked questions

Thyroid surgery is generally safe in experienced hands. The main complications are:

  • Post-operative bleeding that may lead to respiratory distress
  • Recurrent laryngeal nerve injury that can cause temporary or permanent hoarseness, or even respiratory distress in the event that the nerves on both sides are injured
  • Superior laryngeal nerve injury that can cause temporary or permanent change in the pitch of your voice
  • Parathyroid gland(s) trauma which leads to hypoparathyroidism and hypocalcaemia

Studies have shown that complication rates are lower when performed by a surgeon who has received special training and who performs thyroid surgery on a regular basis.

This is an odd question although I can understand the anxiety behind it. I do have a standard answer for this and it goes like this: if by ‘major’, the patient worries about dying or having life-threatening complications post-operatively, or expects to be bed-bound for days suffering in pain, then the answer is “No”.

 

If however, the patient expects the surgery to be over within an hour, be discharged the same day and return to work the next, then the answer is also “No”. The reality is that the surgery can take up to 3 hours (depending on the extent of the surgery), the patient stays in hospital 1-2 days after surgery, and she can eat, talk and walk immediately after the surgery with minimal discomfort.

Yes, benign (non-cancerous) thyroid nodules can be treated with radiofrequency ablation (RFA), if deemed suitable by your surgeon. RFA uses high-frequency energy to ablate the nodule, causing cell death and resulting in its shrinkage

Even though a slight change in voice or mild hoarseness is one of the major complications of a thyroid surgery, it is almost unheard of to lose one’s voice completely.

 

Instead, a transient period during which she experiences a slight hoarseness or strength in voice is probably the most common result. The actual impact of surgery on the voice is often determined by the patient’s expectations and whether she is a professional voice user.

Patients usually recover very quickly after thyroid surgery. The stay in hospital is usually 1-2 days and you can expect to return to a normal diet and daily activities soon after surgery. Strenuous physical activities that may require neck extension should be avoided. A drain may be placed during the operation and this will be removed before discharge from hospital. Generally, there will not be any sutures to remove.

 

In the longer term, you may be prescribed thyroid hormone replacement if you have undergone a total thyroidectomy. Patients who have thyroid cancer may be referred for radioactive iodine treatment. The majority of patients who have had a hemithyroidectomy do not require hormone replacement.
There is a common concern amongst my female patients that they will become overweight after completely removing the thyroid gland. The misconception stems from the fact that patients need to be on lifelong thyroid hormone replacement.

 

On the contrary, a patient on the correct dose of hormone replacement coupled with a regular diet and exercise, should not experience any change in her weight or lifestyle.
No, especially if the thyroid condition is benign and the gland is removed by an experienced thyroid surgeon. Sometimes a benign problem may return if the surgery previously performed is less than a total thyroidectomy. If the condition stems from a cancer, there is definitely a risk of future recurrence depending on the aggressiveness of the cancer and the follow up treatment.
The Specialist Behind Your Care

Dr Thomas Ho

Senior Consultant General Surgeon
20+ Years of Clinical Experience

MBBS(Sydney), MMed(Surg), AFRCS(Ireland), FRCS(Edinburgh), FAMS(General Surgery), FSSO(USA)

Dr. Thomas Ho is a distinguished surgeon well known for his expertise in Cancer Surgery, especially in the field of Head and Neck cancers as well as Abdominal and Digestive cancers. In 2009 he was awarded a MOH scholarship and completed a Surgical Oncology Fellowship in Canada, becoming one of only a handful of surgeons in Singapore with this recognition.

Prior to private practice, Dr. Ho founded the Head and Neck Surgery and Surgical Oncology service at Tan Tock Seng Hospital. Dr. Ho is experienced in laparoscopic (keyhole) and robotic-assisted surgery, which he routinely employs in the treatment of thyroid cancer, colorectal cancer, hernias, gallbladder diseases, adrenal and spleen disorders.

Thyroid Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA)

Discover relief from thyroid nodules without surgery. Thyroid Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA) treats benign nodules while preserving the thyroid gland.

RFA uses an electrode with high-frequency energy to ablate the nodule. This leads to cell necrosis within the nodule and shrinkage of the affected area.

Contact us to find out more about Thyroid RFA today.

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