Revolutionizing thyroid management through Radiofrequency Ablation for thyroid nodules

By The Medical City (TMC), Ortigas | December 15, 2023

On December 12, 2023 the team of Ears Nose Throat-Head and Neck Surgeons, composed of Dr. Ruby Robles-Lee, Dr. Mary Harmony Florentino-Que, Dr. Ma. Victoria Pascual and Dr. Maria Karen Alcantara-Capuz of The Medical City ENT Head and Neck Institute, performed their first Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA) of thyroid nodules.

Ortigas – On December 12, 2023 the team of Ears Nose Throat-Head and Neck Surgeons, composed of Dr. Ruby Robles-Lee, Dr. Mary Harmony Florentino-Que, Dr. Ma. Victoria Pascual and Dr. Maria Karen Alcantara-Capuz of The Medical City ENT Head and Neck Institute, performed their first Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA) of thyroid nodules. The Medical City is one of the few healthcare institutions in the Philippines that offer the procedure.

Radiofrequency ablation of thyroid nodules, pioneered by South Korean Professor Jung Hwan Baek, is an innovative, minimally invasive, non-surgical procedure that uses friction heat delivered through a thin needle to shrink benign thyroid nodules from the inside. This procedure preserves healthy thyroid tissue, allowing the thyroid to function normally without the patient’s need for lifetime medication.

The TMC ENT RFA Team (Drs. Robles-Lee, Florentino-Que, Pascual, and Alcantara-Capuz) had their training in South Korea early this year under the tutelage of the inventor himself, making TMC one of the pioneer institutes in the Philippines to offer the service that is performed by doctors trained under Professor Baek.

The 54-year-old male patient had a benign thyroid nodule by biopsy and disclosed bothersome symptoms of pressure and bulge in the neck in May of 2023. He was then referred for RFA. The procedure was performed in about an hour. During the procedure, the patient felt minimal discomfort and could speak and move about his day immediately.

“When I was recommended the RFA procedure, I was excited that an alternative procedure besides surgery is now available.” says the patient.

Aside from no pain and less downtime to recover, the procedure is done on an outpatient arrangement, under local anesthesia, providing a scarless alternative to select patients bothered by the appearance and discomfort of a thyroid lump.

For select patients with thyroid lumps who are apprehensive about going under the knife, radiofrequency ablation for thyroid nodules is an advantageous and safe choice to consider. With The Medical City ENT Head and Neck Institute offering this service, more opportunities are open for people to have control of their thyroid health. For inquiries about Radiofrequency Ablation for thyroid nodules or if you would like to contact our TMC ENT RFA team, you may call the institute at (02) 8988-1000 or 8988-7000 ext. 6251 / 6465.

A group of nurses in a hospital room Description automatically generated