Thyroid Nodule Radiofrequency Ablation: Complications and Clinical Follow Up

Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is an increasingly popular non-surgical alternative for the treatment of benign thyroid nodules. Although RFA is less invasive than surgery, it is not without its own risks with major complications occurring at a rate ranging up to 3.8% in large systematic reviews. We review the range of minor and major complications that have been described after thyroid RFA and their potential management. We also review recommended post-ablation follow-up schedules as well as expectations on thyroid nodule volume rate reduction after treatment. Long term follow-up is necessary as there can be regrowth of ablated thyroid nodules due to an undertreated nodule margin. Overall, RFA has been shown to be a consistently safe and effective treatment for thyroid nodules with excellent long-term results.