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Interventional procedure overview of ultrasound-guided percutaneous radiofrequency ablation for benign thyroid nodules

Interventional procedure overview of ultrasound-guided percutaneous radiofrequency ablation for benign thyroid nodules

Thyroid nodules are lumps in the thyroid gland. The majority are benign (not cancerous) and this must be determined using appropriate diagnostic tests. In this procedure, a small probe is inserted through the skin into a benign nodule in the neck and an electrical current is used to heat and destroy the nodule.

Radiofrequency ablation is a minimally invasive technique that aims to reduce symptoms and improve cosmetic appearance, while preserving thyroid function, and with fewer complications than surgery. Before treatment, the thyroid nodule is confirmed as benign, typically by the use of 2 fine-needle aspiration biopsies. Ultrasound-guided percutaneous radiofrequency ablation for thyroid nodules is usually done using local anaesthesia in an outpatient setting. The patient is placed in the supine position with moderate neck extension. A radiofrequency electrode is inserted into the nodule using ultrasound guidance to visualise the electrode during the procedure. Once in position, the radiofrequency electrode is activated to heat and destroy the tissue.

Conclusion

Guidelines for the interventional procedure of RFA are available from the United Kingdom and Korea. They were compiled by experts in the fields of thyroidology, endocrinology, interventional radiology, and surgery. The guidelines provide recommendations for RFA treatment of benign thyroid nodules; they are informed by a systematic review of evidence and an assessment of the benefits and harms of alternative treatment options. Medical guidelines from the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, American College of Endocrinology, and Associazione Medici Endocrinologi (Italy) for the management of thyroid nodules include RFA as a treatment. Please read these guidelines for a complete overview of the available data supporting the use of RFA for the treatment of benign thyroid nodules. In November 2015, and updated in April 2016, The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), U.K. prepared an interventional procedure overview based on a rapid review of the medical literature and specialist opinion. The overview is based on approximately 2500 patients from studies and reviews that are relevant to ultrasound-guided percutaneous RFA for thyroid nodules.

Citation

History | Ultrasound-Guided Percutaneous Radiofrequency Ablation for Benign Thyroid Nodules | Guidance | NICE. 22 June 2016, https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ipg562/history.

Key Words

ultrasound, percutaneous radiofrequency ablation, RFA, thyroid gland

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