- Country: Korea
- Official Title: Professor
- Department: Radiology
- Institute: Asan Medical Center
- E-Mail: radbaek@naver.com
Speech Title
Thermal Ablation for Benign and Malignant Thyroid Nodules 甲狀腺結節消融治療
Thyroid nodules are a common clinical finding, which are found in 19-67% of patients. Although most thyroid nodules are benign and do not require treatment, some patients require treatment due to nodule-related symptoms and/or cosmetic problems. Although surgery is a curative method, there are drawbacks such as scar, general anesthesia, long recovery time, and hypothyroidism. Therefore, the use of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) on thyroid nodules has been first introduced in 2002. Since then, many clinical trials have shown that RFA is a good alternative to surgery in patients with benign thyroid nodules. Korean Society of Thyroid Radiology is a leading society of thyroid RFA and developed international guidelines for thyroid RFA. Recent trials also have demonstrated that RFA of recurrent thyroid cancers or primary cancer can be an alternative to surgery in patients at high surgical risk and in patients with inoperable condition. The purpose of this lecture is to review the current evidences of thyroid RFA for benign to malignant tumors, focusing on its long-term efficacy and safety, and to speculate on the future developmental directions.