Ultrasound-Guided Thermal Ablation of Thyroid Nodules: Technicalities Progress and Clinical Applications, Especially in Malignant Thyroid Nodules

Abstract

Thyroid nodules are commonly encountered in health care practice. They are usually benign in nature, with few cases being malignant, and their detection has increased in the adult population with the help of ultrasonography. Thyroidectomy or surgery is the first-line treatment and traditional method for thyroid nodules; however, thyroidectomy leaves permanent scars and requires long-term use of levothyroxine after surgery, which makes patients more reticent to accept this treatment. Thermal ablation is a minimally-invasive technique that have been employed in the treatment of benign and malignant thyroid nodules nodules, and have been shown to be effective and safe. Several studies, including long-term, retrospective, and prospective studies, have investigated the use of ablation to treat benign thyroid nodules and malignant thyroid nodules, including papillary thyroid carcinoma. Here, we review the recent progress in thermal ablation techniques for treating benign and malignant nodules, including their technicalities, clinical applications, pitfalls and limitations, and factors that could affect treatment outcomes. Special in-depth elaboration on the recent progress of the application of thermal ablation therapy in malignant thyroid nodules.

Keywords: thermal ablation; thyroid carcinoma; thyroid nodule; thyroidectomy; ultrasonography.