Professor Moti LorberboimHead of the Nuclear Medicine Institute
The highest percentage of patient recovery, as well as the availability of highly qualified medical care, have become fundamental reasons for the great popularity of the Top Ihilov Medical Center. Every year, hundreds of thousands of grateful patients from around the world regain their health within its walls.
Today, medicine in Israel rightfully holds the status of the best medicine in the world. This is confirmed by the large influx of medical tourists from different countries. Many of them come to this country seeking help for thyroid cysts.
Treatment of Thyroid Cysts
Treatment of larger cysts begins with their puncture and drainage. Benign cysts may be punctured again if they recur and show no signs of inflammation. Sometimes sclerosing agents are injected into their cavity. In cases where the cyst quickly accumulates its contents again and reaches its original size in less than a week, surgical removal of such formations is indicated. Indications for such treatment include:
- Rapid recurrence of fluid accumulation after puncture and drainage of the cyst.
- Large size,
- Compression of neck organs.
The operations of choice are hemistrumectomy (removal of one lobe of the gland) or bilateral subtotal strumectomy (in the presence of benign cysts in both lobes of the gland). To prevent gland hypofunction after such surgery, the patient is prescribed thyroid hormone therapy.
In any case, the treatment protocol for thyroid cysts is determined by doctors based on the clinical picture of the disease, prognosis, research data, and the overall condition of the patient.
It is important to emphasize that conservative therapy is always conducted under the control of thyroid hormone levels and ultrasound of the thyroid gland.
Surgeons and endocrinologists at the Top Ihilov Clinic are happy to provide qualified assistance in the treatment of thyroid cysts.
Diagnosis of Thyroid Cysts
A thyroid cyst can be diagnosed palpably (by finger examination). Further, additional studies are assigned for its differentiation and localization:
- Ultrasound of the thyroid gland. It confirms the presence of a cyst, determines its localization and structure;
- Fine-needle biopsy of the gland tissue or the contents of its cavity with subsequent cytological examination. Notably, the biopsy procedure allows for aspiration of the cyst cavities with subsequent injection of sclerosing agents into the cavity;
- Scintigraphy (scanning of the thyroid using radioactive iodine isotopes). It determines the nature of the cyst, its hormonal activity, and the condition of the surrounding tissues.