Treatment for goitre and hyperthyroidism - #9342

Thanks for explaining your situation so clearly. At 22 years old, with hyperthyroidism and a colloid goitre with cystic degeneration, your concern about surgery is completely understandable. You're right—total thyroidectomy is often recommended when there's a persistent goitre with symptoms, risk of complications, or poor response to medication. However, for colloid goitres that are cystic (fluid-filled) and non-cancerous, there are indeed minimally invasive alternatives like Percutaneous Ethanol Injection (PEI) and Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA). PEI involves injecting ethanol directly into the cystic nodule to shrink it, and it works well in cases where the goitre is primarily fluid-filled. It's safe, quick, and often done under ultrasound guidance. However, PEI is more effective for purely cystic nodules, not mixed (solid + cystic), and does not treat the hyperthyroidism itself. If your thyroid hormone levels are still unstable despite Neo-Mercazole, your doctor might recommend surgery to eliminate both the overactive gland and the goitre at once, followed by lifelong hormone replacement therapy, which is generally well-tolerated. To decide the best future-proof option: Ask your endocrinologist for a thyroid ultrasound and thyroid uptake scan (if not done recently). Consider getting a second opinion from an interventional radiologist about PEI or RFA if the goitre is mostly cystic. Surgery is still a valid and curative option if the gland function is significantly affected or growing. You’re young and aware—which is great. With the right choice now, you can absolutely lead a healthy and normal life ahead. Let me