Interventional Endocrinology · San Diego
A targeted, in-office treatment for fluid-filled thyroid cysts: ultrasound-guided ethanol ablation treats the cyst lining so the fluid does not keep coming back — without surgery.
Cystic, fluid-filled nodules are very common and very rarely cancerous. They can often be drained with a needle, but the fluid frequently re-accumulates and the nodule returns.
Because simple aspiration is so often temporary, a durable solution targets the lining that produces the fluid. Ethanol sclerotherapy does exactly that, and mixed cystic–solid nodules also respond especially well to RFA after the fluid is drained. In our own cohort, mixed cystic–solid nodules shrank by a mean of 85.8% — more than predominantly solid nodules. See Ethanol Sclerotherapy and RFA.
Ethanol ablation uses high-resolution ultrasound to guide a small amount of ethanol directly into a thyroid nodule or cyst, producing a controlled response that selectively destroys the targeted tissue.
It is particularly suited to cystic, fluid-filled nodules, which are very rarely cancerous. These cysts can often be drained with a needle, but fluid frequently re-accumulates and the nodule returns. Ethanol ablation treats the lining that produces the fluid, so the problem is addressed rather than temporarily relieved — making it a durable alternative to repeated aspiration when a cyst is large or causing symptoms.
Like RFA, ethanol ablation is performed in the office under local anesthesia with real-time ultrasound guidance, with no incision and no hospital stay. For patients with a predominantly cystic nodule, it is worth discussing non-surgical options before proceeding to an operation.
Start with a thyroid nodule evaluation at Diabetes & Endocrine Specialists to confirm the diagnosis and discuss whether ethanol ablation is right for you.
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