Long-Term Outcomes Following Thermal Ablation of Benign Thyroid Nodules as an Alternative to Surgery: The Importance of Controlling Regrowth

Thermal ablation (TA) procedures, such as radiofrequency ablation and laser ablation, are used for the treatment of benign thyroid nodules. Short-term studies (<2 years) have demonstrated that TA is an effective and safe procedure to improve cosmetic or symptomatic problems. However, studies incl...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Jung Suk Sim, Jung Hwan Baek
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Academya Publishing Co. 2019-06-01
Series:Endocrinology and Metabolism
Subjects:
Online Access:https://e-enm.org/Synapse/Data/PDFData/2008ENM/enm-34-117.pdf
Description
Summary:Thermal ablation (TA) procedures, such as radiofrequency ablation and laser ablation, are used for the treatment of benign thyroid nodules. Short-term studies (<2 years) have demonstrated that TA is an effective and safe procedure to improve cosmetic or symptomatic problems. However, studies including a longer follow-up period show that treated thyroid nodules can increase in size after 2 to 3 years. Several studies suggest that this results from regrowth at the undertreated nodule margins. Here, we review current data on regrowth after TA and describe factors related to it and possible approaches to prevent it.
ISSN:2093-596X
2093-5978