Thyroid radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is a treatment option for thyroid nodules that aims to remove the nodule while preserving the thyroid gland. This procedure has gained popularity in South Korea and other countries as an alternative to thyroidectomy, a surgery that involves removing the entire thyroid gland. However, the adoption of RFA has been slow in the United States due to insurance companies not covering the procedure, making it too costly for many patients.
Dr. Baek, a specialist in thyroid RFA, believes that the procedure is important for preserving thyroid function and improving the quality of life for patients. In contrast to thyroidectomy, which requires patients to take lifelong hormone replacement medication, RFA allows patients to maintain natural thyroid hormone production.
The cost of thyroid RFA is a significant barrier to its adoption in the United States. While the procedure is cheaper in South Korea and other countries, insurance coverage is a major factor in the affordability of treatment for patients. Insurance companies need to recognize the value of RFA and begin covering the procedure in order for it to become more widely available to patients.
Overall, thyroid RFA is a promising treatment option that has the potential to improve the lives of many thyroid nodule patients. It is important for insurance companies to acknowledge the benefits of this procedure and work towards making it more widely accessible to patients.
MORE INFO
www.rfamd.com
RFA Doctor Directory:
www.rfamd.com
During this video, the following topics are discussed:
✅ Finding treatments that are not over-aggressive and less-invasive.
✅ 70% of women and 50% of men have thyroid nodules
✅ Less than 10% of nodules are cancerous
✅ Is radiofrequency ablation (RFA) an effective treatment?
✅ Is radiofrequency ablation (RFA) painful?
✅ How long does radiofrequency ablation (RFA) take to show results or shrinkage of the nodule?
✅ Ultrasound can categorize a nodule by low risk, intermediate, or high risk.
✅ Thyroidectomy comes with risks, including: vocal cord paralysis, bleeding, parathyroid damage, and nerve damage.
✅ Patients must educate themselves before seeing a doctor.
✅ About Dr. Larian
Babak Larian is a highly experienced, board certified Ear, Nose, & Throat Specialist and Head & Neck surgeon. Dr. Larian is the current Clinical Chief of the Division of Otolaryngology at Cedars-Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles (January 2012 – present). He graduated with academic and humanitarian distinction, from UC Irvine School of Medicine. In 2002 after completing a 6-year residency program in Ear, Nose, & Throat (otolaryngology) and Head & Neck Surgery at UCLA, he began his professional career. He then went on to become a founding member and later the Medical Director of the Cedars-Sinai Head & Neck Center of Excellence (November 2009 – October 2011).
CONTACT
Email: info@larianmd.com
Phone: 310.461.0300
Website: https://https://www.parotidsurgerymd....
Hyperparathyroidism:
https://www.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/parotidsurge...
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/babaklarianmd/
✅ About Philip James
He is the host of the popular podcast: Doctor Thyroid
www.docthyroid.com
In 2013, his laryngeal nerve was severed, shoulder nerve damaged, parathyroids ruined, and residual cancer left behind — all for a 1 cm thyroid nodule.
Later, a vocal cord implant was inserted to help him speak.
All the above, the result of a bad thyroid surgery that dampened his quality of life — and left him wondering, what exactly happened — during what should be a low-risk surgery?
His attempts to follow up with UCLA and the UCLA surgeon were ignored.
He then turned to other doctors for answers — this was the beginning of the podcast:
"Doctor Thyroid with Philip James"
100+ episodes later, the Doctor Thyroid podcast is popular amongst patients; allowing them to access information from top doctors, without being limited by geography or economics.
The word he uses to describe his work as patient advocate is, ‘tonglen’. Or, using his pain and hardship to help others.
When not producing podcast episodes or co-hosting live Q&As for patients with top doctors, he leads the creative team at Doctor Marketing and Philip James Media — a marketing agency dedicated to digital communications serving the sectors of healthcare, payments, and Greentech.
The Doctor Thyroid podcast is available in Spanish and English - and listened to in over 30 countries:
www.doctiroides.com (Spanish)
www.docthyroid.com (English)
✅Please email your requests to philip@philipjames.co
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/philip-james/
Facebook @docthyroid
YouTube @Doctor Thyroid
Twitter @docthyroid
Looking for a RFA doctor?
Search the RFA Directory:
Protecting the nerves during RFA and thyroid surgery with Dr. Julia Noel from Stanford Health Care.
Hosted by Philip James.
Supported by www.rfamd.com.
Find an RFA doctor at www.rfamd.com 🔹🔹🔹
During this interview, the following topics are discussed:
→ Stanford University prioritizes anatomic structures, ultrasound, and how to best protect the laryngeal nerve
→ Pre- procedure ultrasound is instrumental in minimizing risk
→ Risk to the laryngeal nerve is minimal during RFA
→ Where to deliver heat is guided by ultrasound
→ If unintended consequences occurs during RFA, they are usually reversible
→ Most risk is affecting a patient’s voice
→ Technique and space — away from structures — can be controlled with extra fluid
→ Dr. Noel has conducted 80+ RFA procedures at Stanford University
→ What should every practitioner know in regard to protecting the nerves?
→ Commitment to ultrasound anatomy is critical
→ Ultrasound guided procedures
→ The Stanford RFA team for conducting a procedure is one assistant MD or Fellow, medical assistant laying out equipment and vital signs
→ Patient due diligence when selecting an RFA doctor is key: it should include vetting providers for their experience with RFA → Ask if the doctor has done RFA procedures, what’s the plan for follow up?
→ With RFA, are fewer thyroidectomies occurring?With RFA in clinic, patients now have more treatment options → “No hammers looking for nails”
→ Who is the ideal candidate for RFA?
→ Solitary, large, benign thyroid nodule is the ideal candidate → Cost is between $5000 - $10,000
→ Reduction in thyroid nodule size is up to 80%
→ RFA can be used for malignant nodules
→ Why did it take so long for the U.S. to adopt RFA?
FDA processes are laborious and time consuming
→ Is RFA painful? Generally “no”
→ RFA fills a void in treatment options for thyroid nodule
→ Preservation of thyroid function is key — the thyroid is preserved
→ Does insurance cover RFA treatment?
→ Sometimes the insurance company will cover the procedure through an appeal process
About Dr. Julia Noel
✅ TWITTER @JuliaNoelMD
✅ WEBSITE https://profiles.stanford.edu/julia-noel
✅ WEBSITE https://rfamd.com/julia-noel/
✅ Grand Rounds Video on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YeiOQ...
✅ About Philip James
✅ Instagram @philipjames360
✅ TWITTER @docthyroid
✅ LinkedIn @Philip James
✅ Website www.philipjames.co
✅ YouTube https://www.youtube.com/c/DoctorThyroid
🔹🔹🔹
✅ ABOUT Philip James
I shared my story with many of you on my podcast: Doctor Thyroid www.docthyroid.com In 2013, my laryngeal nerve was severed, shoulder nerve damaged, parathyroids ruined, and residual cancer left behind — all for a 1 cm thyroid nodule.Later, a vocal cord implant was inserted to help me speak. The bad result of thyroid surgery dampened my quality of life → and left me wondering, what exactly happened → during what should be a low-risk surgery? My attempts to follow up with UCLA and the surgeon were ignored. So, I turned to other doctors for answers — this was the beginning of the podcast: "Doctor Thyroid with Philip James" 100+ episodes later, the Doctor Thyroid podcast is popular amongst patients; allowing them access to information from top doctors, without being limited by geography or economics. The word I use to describe my work as patient advocate is, ‘tonglen’. Or, using my pain and hardship to help others. When not producing podcast episodes or co-hosting live Q&As for patients with top doctors, I lead the creative team at Philip James Media — we are a marketing agency dedicated to digital communications — serving the sectors of healthcare, payments, and Greentech. The Doctor Thyroid podcast is available in Spanish and English - and listened to in over 30 countries: www.doctiroides.com (Spanish) www.docthyroid.com (English) Please email your requests to philip@philipjames.co 🔹🔹🔹
Looking for a radiofrequency ablation doctor? 🔹www.rfamd.com🔹
Dr. Leonardo Rangel and Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA) for Malignant Thyroid Nodules.
During this episode the following topics are discussed:
✅we are treating malignant nodules with radiofrequency ablation therapy
✅We are using radiofrequency ablation therapy since 2006
✅it is something that we are really experiencing is the treatment of those malignant thyroid nodules with radiofrequency ablation
✅avoid the risk of thyroidectomy
✅surgeons must give patients all treatment options; including no surgery
✅there are some nodules malignant nodules, they are not amenable for radiofrequency due to position, size, or something like this
✅patient consultations take longer because there are more treatment options to consider
✅ the problem of taking the levothyroxine
✅About Dr. Leonardo Rangel
Staff da Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro
Membro da Sociedade Brasileira de Cirurgia de Cabeça e Pescoço
Membro da Sociedade Americana de Otorrinolaringologia e Cirurgia de Cabeça e Pescoço
Membro da Sociedade Latinoamericana de Tireoidologia
✅Facebook
Rangel MD - Cirurgia de Cabeça e Pescoço
@cabecaepescoco
✅Website
https://www.rfamd.com/leonardo-rangel/
✅ABOUT RFA MD
A guide for locating doctors of radiofrequency ablation. Find radiofrequency ablation doctors from across the world.
rfamd.com
✅
Facebook
@RFADOCTOR
✅
Instagram
@RFADOCTOR
✅
LinkedIn
@rfa-doctor-directory
✅
Twitter
@RFADOC
✅
Internet
www.rfamd.com
✅ ABOUT Philip James
He is the host of the popular podcast: Doctor Thyroid
www.docthyroid.com
🔹
In 2013, his laryngeal nerve was severed, shoulder nerve damaged, parathyroids ruined, and residual cancer left behind — all for a 1 cm thyroid nodule.
Later, a vocal cord implant was inserted to help him speak.
🔹
All the above, the result of a bad thyroid surgery that dampened his quality of life — and left him wondering, what exactly happened — during what should be a low-risk surgery?
🔹
His attempts to follow up with UCLA and the UCLA surgeon were ignored.
He then turned to other doctors for answers — this was the beginning of the podcast:
"Doctor Thyroid with Philip James"
🔹
100+ episodes later, the Doctor Thyroid podcast is popular amongst patients; allowing them to access information from top doctors, without being limited by geography or economics.
🔹
The word he uses to describe his work as patient advocate is, ‘tonglen’. Or, using his pain and hardship to help others.
🔹
When not producing podcast episodes or co-hosting live Q&As for patients with top doctors, he leads the creative team at Doctor Marketing and Philip James Media — a marketing agency dedicated to digital communications serving the sectors of healthcare, payments, and Greentech.
🔹
The Doctor Thyroid podcast is available in Spanish and English - and listened to in over 30 countries:
www.doctiroides.com (Spanish)🔹
www.docthyroid.com (English)🔹
✅Please email your requests to philip@philipjames.co
✅Instagram
@PhilipJames360
✅
LinkedIn
www.linkedin.com/in/philip-james/
✅
Facebook
@docthyroid
✅
YouTube
@Doctor Thyroid
✅
Twitter
@docthyroid
✅
Are you looking for an RFA doctor?
Find one here:
www.rfamd.com