Radiofrequency ablation for thyroid nodules: which indications? The first Italian opinion statement

Nodular thyroid disease is a very common finding in clinical practice, discovered by ultrasound (US) in about 50 % of the general population, with higher prevalence in women and in the elderly [1–4]. Whereas therapeutic flowchart is quite established and shared for malignant lesions, multiple options are now available for patients presenting with benign thyroid nodules, ranging from simple clinical and US follow-up to thyroid surgery. The majority of thyroid nodules, benign by fine-needle aspiration, are asymptomatic, stable, or slow-growing over time and require no treatment. Nevertheless, large thyroid nodules may become responsible for pressure symptoms, resulting in neck discomfort, cos…