In the field of otolaryngology, there's a growing interest in the use of ultrasound-guided ablation procedures to treat both benign and malignant thyroid conditions. Ablation procedures offer a minimally invasive option for treating some thyroid nodules and cancers. Ablation techniques have been applied for many years in Asia and Europe and are gaining popularity in the US. As such, the American Head and Neck Society – Endocrine Section assembled an international interdisciplinary team of experts to develop an evidence-based statement, focused primarily on radiofrequency ablation with the intent to serve as a manual for best practice application of ablation technologies.
Marika Russell, MD, associate professor in the UC San Francisco Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery (UCSF OHNS) was a lead collaborator and author on this international consensus statement, recently published online in Head & Neck.
"Radiofrequency ablation and related ultrasound-guided ablation technologies provide an alternative treatment option for some patients that allows them to avoid the operating room," says Dr. Russell. "As these procedures are increasingly used, evidence-based and thoughtful application of best practices is warranted."
The review includes 18 best practice recommendations in topic areas of preprocedural evaluation, technique, postprocedural management, efficacy, potential complications, and implementation. Organizations that were part of this consensus statement include the American Head and Neck Society (AHNS) Endocrine Surgery Section, the Asia-Pacific Society of Thyroid Surgery (APTS), Associazione Medici Endocrinologi (Italy), British Association of Endocrine and Thyroid Surgeons (BAETS), European Thyroid Association (ETA), Italian Society of Endocrine Surgery Units, Korean Society of Thyroid Radiology (KSThR), Latin American Thyroid Society (LATS) and Thyroid Nodules Therapies Association (TNT).
As a head and neck surgeon, Dr. Russell takes a patient-centered approach to surgical care for thyroid and parathyroid diseases. She treats benign and cancerous conditions of the thyroid gland and has extensive experience in treating advanced thyroid cancers. Her expertise includes using ultrasound in the diagnosis and treatment of these conditions.
