Alcohol Ablation

A

Alcohol is a substance that kills tumor cells by denaturing cell proteins and has been used in medicine for decades. Alcohol ablation was first used in the thyroid by Livraghi in 1990. hyperthyroidism (toxic goiter) and later became one of the standard treatments for such thyroid nodules. In the following years, this method was also used in the treatment of non-hyperthyroid (cold) nodules. In 1994, Verde successfully applied alcohol ablation in thyroid nodules containing fluid (cystic). This method has become increasingly widespread in the last 20 years and is now one of the most common treatments for thyroid nodules.

How is it done?

The patient first undergoes a thyroid ultrasound to visualize the nodule to be ablated. Then, local anesthesia is applied to the skin and a thin needle is inserted into the nodule and alcohol is injected slowly. If the nodule is cystic (containing fluid), the fluid is first removed with a needle and then alcohol is injected. After the procedure is completed, the needle is withdrawn and the patient is discharged after a few hours of observation.

A male patient with a single large nodule of 62x50x47 mm in the right lobe of the thyroid undergoes ultrasound-guided alcohol ablation of the nodule twice at 3-month intervals. One year later, ultrasound shows a volume reduction of over 90% in the nodule.