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A multi-year study by Semmelweis University and Premier Med Institute of Health, Education and Research to develop a new minimally invasive treatment for certain thyroid tumors has been successfully completed. The incisionless procedure could revolutionize the treatment of thyroid cancer in Central and Eastern Europe.
As a result of the study, Hungary is the first country in the region to offer this technology without an incision (open surgery), which not only provides patients with a faster and less risky cure, but also preserves thyroid function, Semmelweis University announced. In the statement, Pál Ákos Deák, Associate Professor and Chief of Interventional Radiology at Semmelweis University and Premier Med, said about the new method that
Hungary can play a leading role in medical innovation, especially in the field of minimally invasive cancer treatment.
Dr. Pál Ákos Deák presents an incisionless thyroid cancer operation at the Premier Med Institution on February 12, 2025. Photo: MTI/Balogh Zoltán
He pointed out that the heat treatment technology, radiofrequency ablation (RFA), was first and only in Central and Eastern Europe to be used by Premier Med in recent years for benign thyroid nodules, and is now also being used successfully for malignant thyroid tumors. The technique involves using a thin needle to puncture the tumor in the thyroid gland, followed by ultrasound, heating the tissue. The heat generated then destroys the abnormal cells without damaging the thyroid gland.
After the procedure, patients do not need hormone replacement therapy, complications are significantly reduced, and recovery is much faster.
The professor also noted that the procedure minimizes the surgical burden, risk of infection, and leaves no scars. In addition, the treatment requires far fewer resources and financial outlay than the more typical surgical options in inpatient care, he explained.
Zsófia Riesz, director of strategy and communication at Premier Med, said that the research, which cost almost 300 million forints (750,000 euros), was supported by the National Research, Development, and Innovation Office (NKFI) with more than 167 million forints (415,000 euros).
Via MTI, Featured image: MTI/Balogh Zoltán