http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4726-2692
To Readers of Special Issue on thermal therapies for thyroid diseases,
Image-guided thermal ablation of benign and malignant thyroid diseases is gaining an increasing importance in the clinical practice, and is achieving a great interest by the scientific community. For this reason we decided to dedicate the present issue of the International Journal of Hyperthermia to a collection of recently submitted manuscripts on thyroid thermal ablation.
In the first papers [Citation1–4] by Lang et al., the focus is placed on high intensity focussed ultrasound, that thanks to recent technical developments has also been applied to thyroid disease. This method, does not even require the insertion of an ablative device through the skin, representing by far the less invasive thermal ablation approach for thyroid diseases.
The paper by Mader et al. [Citation5] highlights how thermal ablation might not only be a substitute of other therapies, such as radioiodine ablation, but may also be used in combination with different techniques with an increased synergistic effect.
Furthermore, in the paper by Baek et al. [Citation6], it is pointed out how early detection of regrowth might be extremely important for an eventual early retreatment.
In the paper by Mauri et al. [Citation7], a propensity score analysis is provided to better study which technique between laser and radiofrequency ablation might be more effective in treating benign thyroid nodules, a topic previously reported in our journal [Citation8] and further discussed in some letters to the editor in the present issue [Citation9–11].
Finally, three papers [Citation12–14] discuss the role of thermal ablation in the management of thyroid malignancies, and Wang et al. [Citation15] report on the use of microwaves in the treatment of secondary hyperparathyroidism.
Thus, in this journal collection a comprehensive overview of the most recent research and debate regarding thyroid thermal ablation is provided. We encourage more submissions on this subject and we hope that you will find these methods useful in your practice.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.
References
- Lang BHH, Wong CKH, Ma EPM. (2017). Single-session high intensity focussed ablation (HIFU) versus open cervical hemithyroidectomy for benign thyroid nodule: analysis on early efficacy, safety and voice quality. Int J Hyperthermia 33:868–74.
- Lang BHH, Woo Y-C, Chiu KW-H. (2017). High-intensity focused ablation (HIFU) of single benign thyroid nodule rarely alters underlying thyroid function. Int J Hyperth 33:875–81.
- Lang BHH, Woo YC, Chiu KWH. (2017). The percentage of serum thyroglobulin rise in the first-week did not predict the eventual success of high-intensity focussed ablation (HIFU) for benign thyroid nodules. Int J Hyperth 33:882–7.
- Lang BHH, Woo Y-C, Chiu KW-H. (2017). Vocal cord paresis following single-session high intensity focused ablation (HIFU) treatment of benign thyroid nodules: incidence and risk factors. Int J Hyperth 33:888–94.
- Mader A, Mader OM, Gröner D, et al. (2017). Minimally invasive local ablative therapies in combination with radioiodine therapy in benign thyroid disease: preparation, feasibility and efficiency: preliminary results. Int J Hyperth 33:895–904.
- Sim JS, Baek JH, Lee J, et al. (2017). Radiofrequency ablation of benign thyroid nodules: depicting early sign of regrowth by calculating vital volume. Int J Hyperth 33:905–10.
- Pacella CM, Mauri G, Cesareo R, et al. (2017). A comparison of laser with radiofrequency ablation for the treatment of benign thyroid nodules: a propensity score matching analysis. Int J Hyperthermia 33:911–19.
- Mauri G, Cova L, Monaco CG, et al. (2016). Benign thyroid nodules treatment using Percutaneous Laser Ablation (PLA) and Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA). Int J Hyperthermia 33:295–9.
- Park HS, Baek JH, Na DG. (2017). Benign thyroid nodules treatment using percutaneous laser ablation (PLA) and radiofrequency ablation (RFA). Int J Hyperth 33:953–4.
- Mauri G, Sconfienza LM. (2017). Is operators’ experience more important than the ablation technique in image-guided thermal ablations? Int J Hyperth 33:955–6.
- Baek JH. (2017). Factors related to the recurrence of benign thyroid nodules after thermal ablation. Int J Hyperthermia 33:959–60.
- Chung SR, Suh CH, Baek JH, et al. (2017). Safety of radiofrequency ablation of benign thyroid nodules and recurrent thyroid cancers: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Int J Hyperthermia 33:920–30.
- Ha SM, Sung JY, Baek JH, et al. (2017). Radiofrequency ablation of small follicular neoplasms: initial clinical outcomes. Int J Hyperthermia 33:931–7.
- Jeong SY, Baek JH, Choi YJ, Lee JH. (2017). Ethanol and thermal ablation for malignant thyroid tumours. Int J Hyperth 33:938–45.
- Wang G, Liu S, Liu X, et al. (2017). Microwave ablation: an effective treatment for mild-to-moderate secondary hyperparathyroidism in patients undergoing haemodialysis. Int J Hyperth 33:946–52.