In what is described as a monumental step forward for cancer treatment in South Africa, a team at the UCT Private Academic Hospital successfully conducted the country’s first cryoablation procedure to treat thyroid carcinoma last Wednesday.
Cape Etc reports that, led by Dr Gercois Human, Dr Jateel Kassim and Dr Gareth Bydawell, the Cape Town Interventional Radiology team, employed the innovative, minimally invasive technique to combat a recurring case of papillary thyroid carcinoma.
The patient in the landmark case had experienced a recurrence of the cancer, with secondary tumours developing in different parts of the body after the surgical removal of the original thyroid cancer.
Traditional treatment methods had been exhausted, making this pioneering use of cryoablation a beacon of hope.
Cryoablation is a cutting-edge technique where doctors utilise extremely low temperatures to freeze and destroy cancer cells, all while being guided by advanced imaging technology.
By targeting the tumours with precision, the procedure aims to effectively eradicate cancerous cells while minimising damage to surrounding healthy tissue.
The 112-bed CT Private Academic Hospital is an innovative collaboration between Netcare, the University of Cape Town Medical School, and Groote Schuur Hospital.
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