| Summary: | The conventional treatment of symptomatic benign thyroid nodules is surgical excision under general anesthesia. Ultrasound-guided ablation of thyroid nodules has emerged as an alternative to surgery for symptomatic benign thyroid nodules. The procedure can be performed on an outpatient basis and has a low complication rate. Cystic thyroid nodules can be effectively managed with percutaneous ethanol injections and solid thyroid nodules can be treated using thermal ablation, such as radiofrequency ablation (RFA), laser ablation (LA), high intensity focus ultrasound (HIFU), and microwave ablation. Ethanol injections use a chemical reaction and thermal ablation uses heat injury to cause the cells to break down and the nodule to shrink. In recent years, RFA is available for achieving local control of recurrences of papillary thyroid carcinoma in patients who are poor candidates for general anesthesia. RFA and LA are the most commonly used techniques. HIFU and microwave ablation are newer techniques and should be considered experimental due to insufficient evidence regarding their utility.
|
|---|