Thyroid nodules (TNs) are a widespread occurrence among adults across the world. While most of the nodules are asymptomatic and only require follow-ups and monitoring by a physician, some nodules grow and cause symptoms associated with cosmetic concerns and pressure in the neck region. However, there is mounting evidence of non-surgical thermal ablation (NSTA) methods for treating benign TNs. Although some medical centers in Saudi Arabia practice such treatment modalities for TNs, studies from these centers have not been conducted comparing the efficacy and cost-effectiveness between conventional surgical treatment and NSTA. In this review article, our main objective was to review the current literature, show the efficacy and affordability of NSTA treatment of TNs worldwide, and compare it to Saudi Arabia’s data. This included a review of various NSTA techniques, associated cost implications, pre-treatment and pre-qualification procedures, post-treatment and follow-ups, and the side effects. Clinical review publications related to the non-surgical treatment of TNs were selected. The focus was on large-scale, randomized studies, publications by certified national or international thyroid associations, and peer-reviewed articles on various medical websites such as PubMed. Search criteria were based on keywords: thyroid nodules, thermal ablation, laser ablation, radiofrequency high-intensity focused ultrasound, microwaves, and European Thyroid Association. This study first identified and scrutinized 65 articles from sources such as PubMed and Research Gate and applied the selection, inclusion, and exclusion criteria to narrow down to the final 30 articles that were more relevant to the study area.
Key words: Thyroid nodule, thermal ablation, laser ablation, radiofrequency, high-intensity focused ultrasound, microwaves, European thyroid association.
|
