[Local ablative procedures for treatment of thyroid nodules]

Area of Science:

• Endocrinology and minimally invasive treatments.

Context:

• Thyroid nodules are highly prevalent in iodine-deficient regions, particularly in Central Europe.
• Conventional treatments include surgery and radioiodine therapy, which carry inherent risks and limitations.
• Increasingly, patients require definitive treatment for thyroid gland pathologies.

Purpose:

• To review and present emerging nonsurgical and non-radioiodine techniques for thyroid nodule treatment.
• To provide a comprehensive overview of probe-based (radiofrequency, microwave, laser) and noninvasive (high-intensity focused ultrasound) energy/heat application methods.
• To facilitate informed decision-making for physicians and patients regarding optimal thyroid nodule management.

Summary:

• Nonsurgical techniques aim to reduce thyroid nodule volume using targeted energy application.
• Probe-based methods include radiofrequency ablation (RFA), microwave ablation (MWA), and laser ablation (LA).
• High-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) represents the sole noninvasive therapeutic option.

Impact:

• Enhanced understanding of novel thyroid nodule treatment modalities.
• Supports clinical decision-making by outlining advantages and risks of various techniques.
• Promotes personalized treatment strategies for thyroid pathologies, moving beyond traditional interventions.