Percutaneous ablation of benign thyroid nodules – online course
Description
Authors: G. Mauri and D. Rossi
Reviewers: A. Barnacle, X. Buy, C. Nice, H. Moriarty and F. Wolf
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
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. Nowadays, minimally invasive image-guided treatments such as thermal ablation with radiofrequency ablation (RFA), 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 pathophysiology of benign thyroid nodules formation, and review the most widely adopted minimally invasive treatments, including indications, efficacy and side effects.
Learning objectives
Knowledge
- Recognise the different features of benign thyroid nodules and their appropriate clinical management
- Define which nodules can be treated with the different minimally-invasive ablation techniques
Clinical skills
- 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 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 hour.
The enrolment period of this course is linked to the validity of the All-Access Pass.
Release date: October 15, 2021
