**Thyroid nodule ablation** is a minimally invasive treatment method that has emerged as an alternative to surgery in recent years. However, this treatment is not suitable for every thyroid nodule. The patient and the nodule must meet specific criteria.
In this article, we will discuss in detail who the ideal candidates are for thermal ablation methods such as radiofrequency ablation (RFA) or microwave ablation (MWA).
Primary Criterion: The Nodule Must Be Benign
The most fundamental and indispensable condition for ablation treatment to be applied is ensuring that the nodule is **benign**. This is usually confirmed by Fine Needle Aspiration Biopsy (FNAB). Ablation treatment is generally not the first option for suspicious or cancerous nodules larger than 1.5 cm and requires different treatment protocols.