General principles for the safe performance, training and adoption of ablation techniques for benign thyroid nodules: An American Thyroid Association Statement.

Thyroid ablative procedures provide valid alternative treatment strategies to conventional surgical management for a subset of patients with symptomatic benign thyroid nodules. Careful patient and nodule selection are critical to the success of these procedures as is extensive pre-procedural patient counselling. Although these emerging technologies hold great promise, they are not without risk and require development of a unique skillset and environment for optimal, safe performance and consistent outcomes.