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Laser and Radiofrequency Ablation Procedures

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Thyroid Ultrasound and Ultrasound-Guided FNA

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Abstract

Percutaneous Laser Ablation and radiofrequency are minimally invasive techniques to destroy thyroid nodules and tumors using hyperthermia without surgical removal. The thermal damage caused by heating depends both on the tissue temperature reached and on the duration of heating. For example, heating tissue at 50–55 °C for 4–6 min produces irreversible cellular damage, at temperatures between 60 and 100 °C, near-immediate coagulation of tissue is induced, with irreversible damage to mitochondrial and cytolysic enzymes of the cells, and at over 100–110 °C, tissue vaporizes and carbonizes. The potential advantages of in situ tumor ablation include decreased costs, reduced morbidity, the possibility of performing procedures on outpatients, and the possibility of treating patients who are poor candidates for surgery due to age, comorbidity, or extent of disease. Ablation procedures are performed in the thyroid gland under ultrasound real time imaging.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Endocrinology Unit, Arcispedale Santa Maria Nuova, Reggio Emilia, Italy

    Roberto Valcavi MD, FACE

  2. Endocrine Unit, Arcispedale Santa Maria Nuova, Reggio Emilia, Italy

    Giorgio Stecconi Bortolani MD & Fabrizio Riganti MD

Authors
  1. Roberto Valcavi MD, FACE
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  2. Giorgio Stecconi Bortolani MD
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  3. Fabrizio Riganti MD
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Roberto Valcavi MD, FACE .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of Central Florida, North Orange Ave. 2921, Orlando, 32804, Florida, USA

    H. Jack Baskin, Sr.

  2. Endocrinology Associates, North 3rd Avenue 3522, Phoenix, 85613, Arizona, USA

    Daniel S. Duick

  3. Thyroid Center of New Hampshire, Coliseum Avenue 5, Nashua, 03063, New Hampshire, USA

    Robert A. Levine

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Valcavi, R., Bortolani, G.S., Riganti, F. (2013). Laser and Radiofrequency Ablation Procedures. In: Baskin, Sr., H., Duick, D., Levine, R. (eds) Thyroid Ultrasound and Ultrasound-Guided FNA. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-4785-6_13

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-4785-6_13

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