Percutaneous ablation of benign thyroid nodules (2025)

Description

Authors: G. Mauri and D. Rossi

Reviewers: D. Filippiadis, T. Helmberger, R. Iezzi, A. Mahnken, C. van Rijswijk, A. Ryan and R. Uberoi

This course corresponds to chapter 2.2.4.2 Percutaneous ablation of bone and soft tissue lesions in the European Curriculum and Syllabus for Interventional Radiology.

Abstract

Benign thyroid nodules are very common in the general population. Usually they are asymptomatic, benign at cytology, and can be followed by observation alone in the majority of cases. Infrequently, nodules can grow and cause symptoms, thus requiring treatment. Presently, minimally invasive image-guided treatments such as thermal ablation with radiofrequency ablation (RFA), microwave ablation (MWA), percutaneous laser ablation (LA), or percutaneous ethanol injection (PEI) have been proven to be an effective and safe treatment method and represent a valid alternative to surgery. This course will go over thyroid general anatomy and the pathophysiology of benign thyroid nodule formation and review the most widely adopted minimally invasive treatments, including indications, efficacy, and side effects. Importantly, the course will not cover the management of thyroid malignancy.

Learning objectives

• Recognise the different features of benign thyroid nodules and their appropriate clinical management
• Define which nodules can be treated with different minimally invasive ablation techniques

Clinical skills

• Understand the need for a basic thyroid clinical examination comprising a systematic history, a physical examination, and basic thyroid function tests
• Understand the clinical case for image-guided ablation of benign thyroid nodules and its feasibility in different clinical settings
• Be able to anticipate potential injuries, such as vagus nerve injury, and be able to inform patients about these risks
• Be aware of different and promising technologies for the treatment of benign thyroid nodules

Technical skills

• Identify basic skills, techniques, and pitfalls of ultrasound-guided minimally invasive treatments of the thyroid
• Know the differences between the diverse ablation techniques in terms of physical aspects, action mechanism, and general clinical considerations

Further information

This course covers a basic level of IR knowledge and is designed for trainees, students or young consultants aiming to acquire essential knowledge or prepare for the EBIR exam. Thereby, it is tailored to the European Curriculum and Syllabus for Interventional Radiology and corresponds to chapter 2.2.4.2 Percutaneous ablation of bone and soft tissue lesions.

The format of the course is interactive and easy to use, including texts, graphics, videos and a quiz to support your learning. The course duration is around one and half hours and is accredited by the European Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (EACCME) to award 1.5 European CME credits (ECMEC). Please note that this course will be taken offline on November 5, 2030.

The acquired CME Certificate will be available in the myCIRSE area under CIRSE Academy.

The enrolment period of this course is linked to the validity of the All-Access Pass.

Release date: November 2025