Ablation therapies for thyroid nodules and parathyroid adenomas: What we should know?

Thyroid nodules and parathyroid adenomas are common endocrine disorders that can lead to significant clinical symptoms and necessitate intervention. Traditionally, surgical resection has been the primary treatment for symptomatic or malignant thyroid nodules and parathyroid adenomas. However, surgery carries risks such as hypothyroidism, nerve damage and postoperative complications and may not be suitable for patients, especially those with comorbidities. Recently, non-surgical, image-guided ablation therapies, including ethanol ablation (EA), radiofrequency ablation (RFA), and microwave ablation (MWA), have emerged as viable alternatives for managing benign symptomatic thyroid nodules and parathyroid adenomas. This review highlights the indications, techniques, and outcomes associated with these ablative therapies. While the use of thermal ablation in managing thyroid nodules is well-supported by various guidelines, its application in parathyroid adenomas remains exploratory. The safety and efficacy profiles of these minimally invasive treatments make them promising alternatives to surgery, especially for patients who are high-risk surgical candidates or prefer non-surgical options.