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Minimally Invasive Therapies for Endocrine Neck Diseases pp 75–84Cite as

Percutaneous Laser Thermal Ablation (LAT): Techniques, Indications, Experience and Complications

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Abstract

Thyroid nodules are a frequent clinical problem in endocrine practice [1, 2]. The majority of them are benign and asymptomatic but some steadily grow and may cause pressure symptoms or concern [1]. Surgical resection is the traditional approach to thyroid lesions that, even if benign at repeated fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNA), are symptomatic or progressively enlarging [3]. Surgery, however, carries some problems: is expensive, is associated with a low but not negligible risk of cosmetic damage or complications, and is frequently followed by the need of a substitution therapy [3]. During the last years, non-surgical, minimally invasive procedures (MIT) have been investigated for the treatment of thyroid lesions when surgery is technically difficult or is refused by the patient [4]. Bown [5] first used laser energy for the debulking of hepatic tumours and later, in the year 2000, US-guided laser ablation (LAT) was proposed for the management of benign solid thyroid nodules [6]. Currently, the procedure is increasingly used for the treatment of selected patients with thyroid lesions and its principles, outcomes, side effects and indications will be reviewed in the following chapters.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Endocrinology, Regina Apostolorum Hospital, Albano Laziale, Rome, Italy

    Enrico Papini MD, FACE, Irene Misischi, Filomena Graziano, Rinaldo Guglielmi & Marco Chianelli

  2. Diagnostic Imaging, Regina Apostolorum Hospital, Albano Laziale, Rome, Italy

    Antonio Bianchini & Giancarlo Bizzarri

Authors
  1. Enrico Papini MD, FACE
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  2. Irene Misischi
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  3. Antonio Bianchini
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  4. Filomena Graziano
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  5. Rinaldo Guglielmi
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  6. Marco Chianelli
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  7. Giancarlo Bizzarri
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Enrico Papini MD, FACE .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Chief of Endocrine Surgery Unit, Policlinico Gemelli – CIC, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Milano, Italy

    Celestino Pio Lombardi

  2. Chief of Istituto Semeiotica Chirurgica, Chief of Endocrine and Metabolic Surgery Unit, Policlinico Gemelli, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy

    Rocco Bellantone

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Papini, E. et al. (2016). Percutaneous Laser Thermal Ablation (LAT): Techniques, Indications, Experience and Complications. In: Lombardi, C., Bellantone, R. (eds) Minimally Invasive Therapies for Endocrine Neck Diseases. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-20065-1_6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-20065-1_6

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-20064-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-20065-1

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