Sound cure for thyroid problems
THOUSANDS of Britons suffering from a common thyroid problem could have it treated with a blast of heat to their neck. The treatment – echotherapy – uses a handheld device to fire ultrasound waves at lumps on the thyroid.
The butterfly-shaped gland, situated just behind the Adam’s apple, produces hormones that regulate the body’s metabolic rate. But tiny growths that develop over months or years can disrupt this process.
Most consist of thyroid tissue which has ‘sprouted’ into nodules, although some develop as fluid-filled cysts. These nodules are three times more common in women – about half of those aged 50 will have one.
Most cause no problems, but in around a third of people who have them they can trigger symptoms because they increase production of the thyroid hormone thyroxine.
This can lead to excessive sweating, irritability, palpitations, a swollen neck and weight loss.
Thyroid problems are one of the most common disorders seen by GPs. As well as potentially harmful nodules, doctors treat millions affected by hypothyroidism (an underactive thyroid) and hyperthyroidism (overactive gland).
Doctors hope the new ultrasound device, called EchoPulse, could transform treatment for those affected by thyroid nodules.
As it is not invasive, they believe it could take the place of surgery which involves general anaesthesia, incisions and scars. Operating can also cause damage to the vocal cords.
The device works by using ultrasound to generate heat in a targeted area. The concentrated beam is fired through the neck, heating the thyroid nodules to 85C, enough to destroy them, while sparing the surrounding healthy tissue.
The soundwaves are fired through a pad filled with cold water to stop the skin from burning.
Results show that the heat treatment shrinks nodules by up to 60 per cent within three months and restores thyroid production to normal levels almost immediately.
A study reported in the Journal Of Therapeutic Ultrasound found that although one treatment was sufficient to produce these results, two achieved greater reductions.
The treatment is being used for the first time in the UK at the London Endocrine Centre.
Consultant endocrinologist Dr Paul Jenkins, said: ‘Echotherapy is an exciting new development. Its noninvasive nature avoids a scar and any surgical complications.’
A recent study at the University of Virginia in the United States involving 20 patients found no major side effects apart from temporary discomfort.
The procedure costs £3,500, compared to an average of £5,000 per patient for conventional surgery.
Dr Kristien Boelaert, a metabolism expert at Birmingham University, said the treatment could benefit patients but cautioned that more research was needed to examine how much ‘collateral damage’ there might be to the thyroid during the procedure.