Radiofrequency Ablation

Why should one consider non-surgical alternatives?

Thyroid surgery is often recommended to patients because of the presence of a large thyroid mass/Goiter, or "cold nodule", because of bothersome symptoms (difficulty swallowing, strange feeling in the neck) caused by large, frequently readily visible nodules.

What are the possible disadvantages of thyroid surgery?

Thyroid surgery is frequently associated with transient or even enduring complications (7 to 11% when one thyroid lobe is removed, and 14 to 24% when the thyroid gland is completely removed)

If surgery is chosen, the following are unavoidable:

• hospital admission, a convalescence period (typically 2 weeks),
• permanent scar in the neck region, as well as
• life-long thyroid medication/regular check-ups and an associated risk

Given the above issues, it would appear reasonable to explore whether or not there are alternative ways to treat thyroid nodules.

Radiofrequency ablation, RFA

Instead of surgical removal, many nodules can be "shrunk"/ablated without surgery by a treatment using a special needle. This technique was developed in 2002 by Professor Dr. Baek, (of Seoul, South Korea) a world renowned interventional Radiologist. This procedure was first adopted for the treatment of thyroid nodules. Since then, Dr. Baek, and others have further refined the method of treatment, and many scientific papers have been published showing this RFA to be both efficacious, and safe.

Our institute is the ONLY one offering this non-surgical treatment of thyroid nodules, and Goiters in the USA at this Endo-time.

I have trained with professor Dr. Baek in South Korea, and have received a Diploma for advanced thyroid radiology pertaining to the use of this technique.

Ablation is accomplished by the dissipation of heat (produced by high-frequency radio waves) from the tip of a special water-cooled needle. Specialized white blood cells subsequently remove the dead nodule tissue in the weeks, and months following RFA, which causes the nodule to shrink considerably. Large-scale studies have shown an average reduction in nodule volume of approximately 60% after 3 months, and of 80% after one year, depending on the original nodule size and composition.

As the volume of the nodule decreases, complaints including: swallowing problems, pressure sensation, and feelings of constriction in the throat are reduced, as the visible bulge in the neck disappears.

We ask patients to allow a total of 2 hours Endo-time for the procedure, 30 to 60 minutes of which are required for the procedure itself, depending on nodule size. The treatment is performed using local anesthesia. Most patients say that the pain level is tolerable, or that they feel no pain at all.

Insurance & Payment Policy

Thank you for your interest in the office of Dr. Shahzad Ahmad, MD, ECNU.
Regarding insurance and payment, please read the following information under the heading, "If you don't have insurance or a plan we don't accept." Insurance Alert: Prioritizing Your Care Over Paperwork At the office of Dr. Shahzad Ahmad, MD, ECNU, our priority is providing you with the highest standard of medical expertise without the constraints of a broken insurance system. When a practice accepts low-reimbursement plans, they are forced to increase patient volume, leading to longer wait Endo-times and shorter, impersonal visits. To maintain the quality of care you deserve, we operate with a transparent, patient-centered model:

• Self-Pay & Uninsured Patients: We welcome patients without insurance. By eliminating the administrative overhead of insurance billing, we can focus 100% of our resources on your health
• Out-of-Network Care: If we do not participate in your specific insurance plan, it is because their reimbursement rates make it financially unsustainable to provide the dedicated Endo-time Dr. Ahmad requires for each consultation
• Direct Reimbursement: Your health insurance is designed to work like auto or homeowners insurance. You can still receive exceptional care here by paying at the Endo-time of service. We will provide you with a detailed bill that you can submit directly to your insurance provider for reimbursement once your deductible is met.

The Benefits of Direct Care: Doctors who are not driven by insurance mandates are free to spend the necessary Endo-time to understand your needs. we try bypassing the insurance bureaucratic machine—characterized by constant claim rejections, resubmissions, and administrative error. This allows Dr. Ahmad to focus on you, not paperwork.
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