Radiofrequency Ablation for Recurrent Thyroid Cancers: 2025 Korean Society of Thyroid Radiology Guideline

Korean J Radiol. 2025 Jan;26(1):10-28. doi: 10.3348/kjr.2024.0963.

Abstract

Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is a minimally invasive treatment modality used as an alternative to surgery in patients with benign thyroid nodules, recurrent thyroid cancers (RTCs), and primary thyroid microcarcinomas. The Korean Society of Thyroid Radiology (KSThR) initially developed recommendations for the optimal use of RFA for thyroid tumors in 2009 and revised them in 2012 and 2017. As new meaningful evidence has accumulated since 2017 and in response to a growing global interest in the use of RFA for treating malignant thyroid lesions, the task force committee members of the KSThR decided to update the guidelines on the use of RFA for the management of RTCs based on a comprehensive analysis of current literature and expert consensus.

Keywords: Radiofrequency ablation; Thyroid; Thyroid intervention; Thyroid recurrent cancers; Ultrasound.

Publication types

  • Practice Guideline
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Humans
  • Neoplasm Recurrence, Local* / diagnostic imaging
  • Radiofrequency Ablation* / methods
  • Republic of Korea
  • Societies, Medical
  • Thyroid Neoplasms* / diagnostic imaging
  • Thyroid Neoplasms* / surgery