Dr. Atabak Allaei is a double board-certified physician in Vascular & Interventional Radiology and Diagnostic Imaging, a distinction that reflects advanced training in both diagnostic imaging and minimally invasive image-guided treatment. He is an attending physician at both Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Beverly Hills and UCI Medical Center, and is the Medical Director of the California Thyroid Center.
Recognized for his expertise in minimally invasive thyroid treatments, Dr. Allaei has been at the forefront of non-surgical thyroid nodule care in California. He was among the first physicians in California to perform thyroid artery embolization, also known as TAE, offering select patients an innovative, incision-free alternative for treating symptomatic thyroid enlargement and nodules.
As a vascular and image-guided specialist, Dr. Allaei has extensive experience in thyroid radiofrequency ablation, thyroid artery embolization, and other advanced ultrasound-guided procedures. His background in both embolization and tumor ablation allows him to evaluate thyroid conditions with a highly specialized perspective and offer patients a broader range of minimally invasive treatment options.
Dr. Allaei’s experience extends beyond the thyroid. He has performed complex ablation and image-guided treatments involving the liver, kidney, bone, lung, uterus, pelvis, and vascular system. This broad procedural background gives him a unique advantage in treating thyroid nodules safely and precisely, especially in patients seeking to avoid surgery, scarring, or lifelong thyroid medication when appropriate.
With more than 7,000 ultrasound-guided and image-guided procedures performed, Dr. Allaei is respected for his technical skill, careful imaging evaluation, and ability to manage complex cases. His dual board certification allows him to combine expert image interpretation with precise treatment planning — an important advantage when performing delicate procedures near critical structures in the neck.
Originally from San Diego, California, Dr. Allaei earned his undergraduate degree in Biochemistry and Cell Biology from the University of California, San Diego, graduating Summa Cum Laude. He later pursued breast cancer research before earning his Doctor of Medicine degree from the State University of New York. He completed residency training in New York, followed by fellowship training in Vascular and Interventional Radiology at the prestigious Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology at Washington University/Barnes-Jewish Medical Center.
Patients choose Dr. Allaei not only for his recognized expertise, but also for his personalized, honest, and safety-focused approach to care. He takes time to understand each patient’s symptoms, review imaging carefully, and explain whether thyroid RFA, thyroid artery embolization, surgery, or observation is the most appropriate option. His goal is to provide advanced, minimally invasive thyroid care with precision, comfort, and long-term patient outcomes in mind.
What do Staff say ?
Recent Posts
Intrathoracic #goiter with severe airway stenosis treated with #TAE, pre and post 1 year follow up scan with resolution of symptoms and 60% volume reduction. #Embolization is an outpatient non-surgical alternative to #thyroid removal.
Pre- and post-hemorrhoidal artery embolization (HAE). If you have #bleeding internal #hemorrhoids there is another option 🙌🏽
Contact the doctors that specialist in embolization 👉Vascular & Interventional Radiologist
#IRad #Embolization #Hemorrhoids
Met the 2.5 year old result of an #FTR procedure from 3 years ago that helped restore fertility and hope to this wonderful family. #infertility #blockedtubes #irad
18 cm #fibroid treated with #UFE. Significant reduction, patient was symptoms free and finally able to sleep through the night. No #hysterectomy required. Non-surgical UFE is only performed by a trained Vascular and Interventional Radiologist. MRI before and 6 months post.
#MRI before and 6 months after uterine artery embolization for #adenomyosis with resolution of heavy painful menstrual cycles. There are non-surgical options out there! See a specialist today, #hysterectomy is not the only option! #irad #gynecology #gyn #uae #ufe #embolizaiton
Small #intracavitary #fibroid treated with outpatient #ufe procedure. Minimal downtime. Minimal post op pain. Contact IR specialist if you have #fibroids. #nonsurgical #embolization maybe an option. #fibroidsurgery #health #women #myomectomy #hysterectomy #uae #medicine #surgery
Our Specialist
Atabak Allaei, MD
Double board-certified in Vascular & Interventional Radiology and Diagnostic Radiology. Medical Director of the California Thyroid Center. He performs every thyroid ablation and embolization himself.
Why patients seek our doctor
Thyroid nodules treated without surgery
Among the first physicians in California to perform thyroid artery embolization — for patients who were told that removing the thyroid was the only option.
He does every case himself
Every appointment and every procedure is conducted by Dr. Allaei — not a physician assistant, nurse practitioner or rotating provider.
He scans and reads your imaging himself
Board certification in Diagnostic Radiology means that alongside the radiologist’s report, he reviews your ultrasound himself — planning the case from the images, not from a summary of them.
He offers both RFA and TAE
Most centers do one or the other. Offering both means the recommendation can follow your anatomy rather than the single procedure available.
An early adopter of thyroid embolization
He was among the first in California to perform thyroid artery embolization, offering select patients an incision-free option for symptomatic thyroid enlargement.
The thyroid stays, and so does your neck
No incision and no scar — and for appropriate patients, the possibility of avoiding lifelong thyroid medication.
Your physician
Atabak Allaei, MD
Double Board-Certified · Vascular & Interventional Radiology and Diagnostic Radiology
Medical Director, California Thyroid Center
- Double board-certified
- 10,000+ image-guided procedures
- Cedars-Sinai & UCI Health staff
- Early adopter of thyroid TAE
- Performs both RFA and TAE
The part most pages leave out
Thyroid ablation is a harder procedure than it sounds
The thyroid sits in a crowded neck. Within millimeters of the gland are the nerve that controls your voice, the carotid artery, the jugular vein, the esophagus, the trachea and the parathyroid glands. Treating a nodule completely while protecting all of them is the whole skill.
- The voice nerve runs right there. The recurrent laryngeal nerve sits in the groove behind the gland and must be identified and protected throughout.
- The needle never stops moving. Ablation is performed by treating small volumes at a time under live ultrasound, rather than parking the needle in one spot.
- Fluid is used as a barrier. Injecting fluid to separate the thyroid from surrounding structures creates a protective margin before energy is applied.
- Coverage decides the result. Incomplete treatment at the edges is what leads to regrowth, so the whole nodule has to be addressed.
- Not every nodule is an ablation nodule. Size, position, function and biopsy results determine whether RFA, TAE, surgery or observation is the right call.
See it for yourself
Patient experiences and live procedures
Actual RFA and TAE cases, and patients describing the experience before, during and after treatment.
The testimonials, statements, and opinions presented are applicable to the individuals depicted. Results will vary and may not be representative of the experience of others. The testimonials are voluntarily provided and are not paid, nor were they provided with free products, services, or any benefits in exchange for said statements. Testimonials are not a substitute for medical advice from a physician.
Background
About Dr. Allaei
- Focus: the thyroid
- Breadth of experience
- Why the specialty matters
- Training and credentials
- How he practices
Focus: the thyroid
Recognized for his expertise in minimally invasive thyroid treatments, Dr. Allaei has been at the forefront of non-surgical thyroid nodule care in California. He was among the first physicians in California to perform thyroid artery embolization (TAE), offering select patients an innovative, incision-free alternative for treating symptomatic thyroid enlargement and nodules.
He has extensive experience in thyroid radiofrequency ablation, thyroid artery embolization, and other advanced ultrasound-guided procedures. His background in both embolization and ablation allows him to evaluate thyroid conditions with a highly specialized perspective and offer a broader range of minimally invasive options than a single-technique practice can.
Breadth of experience
Dr. Allaei has performed more than 10,000 ultrasound-guided and image-guided procedures, and is respected for his technical skill, careful imaging evaluation, and ability to manage complex cases:
This broad procedural background gives him an advantage in treating thyroid nodules safely and precisely, especially in patients seeking to avoid surgery, scarring, or lifelong thyroid medication when appropriate.
Why the specialty matters
Thyroid RFA and thyroid artery embolization are not surgery. Nothing is cut open and the gland is not removed — the nodule is treated through a needle under ultrasound, or the gland's blood supply is reduced from inside the arteries through a pinhole. These are image-guided procedures, and they fall under the training and board certification of Vascular & Interventional Radiology.
This is worth being clear about, because many patients are only ever offered the options their surgeon is trained to perform. Surgical certification covers thyroidectomy — removing part or all of the gland. Ablation and embolization are performed by interventional radiologists, which is why so many patients reach us having never been told the non-surgical option existed. Both specialties have a role; the difference is which procedures each is trained and certified to perform. See the full comparison chart →
Training and credentials
He is double board-certified in Vascular & Interventional Radiology and in Diagnostic Radiology — a distinction reflecting advanced training in both diagnostic imaging and minimally invasive image-guided treatment. He is an attending physician at both Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Beverly Hills and UCI Medical Center, and is Medical Director of the California Thyroid Center.
- University of California, San DiegoBS, Biochemistry and Cell Biology — Summa Cum Laude
- Breast cancer researchPrior to medical school
- State University of New YorkDoctor of Medicine
- Residency — New YorkRadiology
- Mallinckrodt Institute of RadiologyFellowship in Vascular & Interventional Radiology — Washington University / Barnes-Jewish Medical Center
How he practices
Originally from San Diego, Dr. Allaei is chosen by patients not only for his recognized expertise but for a personalized, honest, and safety-focused approach to care. He takes time to understand each patient's symptoms, review imaging carefully, and explain whether thyroid RFA, thyroid artery embolization, surgery, or observation is the most appropriate option — including when the answer is to do nothing for now. His goal is to provide advanced, minimally invasive thyroid care with precision, comfort, and long-term patient outcomes in mind.
Clinical decisions here are made by the physician who performs the procedure, with no outside influence on your care and no pressure to move you through a schedule. More about how our practice works →
In their own words
Hear from current and past OR staff
The nurses and technologists who work beside him in the procedure room — the people who watch him operate — describe what it’s like to assist his cases.
Patient reviews tell you about bedside manner. Operating-room staff see something patients never do: how a physician handles a difficult case, how steady the hands are, and whether the room stays calm.
Latest updates
Real cases, as he treats them
He posts imaging, outcomes and technique from actual procedures on his professional feed.
Intrathoracic #goiter with severe airway stenosis treated with #TAE, pre and post 1 year follow up scan with resolution of symptoms and 60% volume reduction. #Embolization is an outpatient non-surgical alternative to #thyroid removal.
Pre- and post-hemorrhoidal artery embolization (HAE). If you have #bleeding internal #hemorrhoids there is another option 🙌🏽
Contact the doctors that specialist in embolization 👉Vascular & Interventional Radiologist
#IRad #Embolization #Hemorrhoids
Met the 2.5 year old result of an #FTR procedure from 3 years ago that helped restore fertility and hope to this wonderful family. #infertility #blockedtubes #irad
18 cm #fibroid treated with #UFE. Significant reduction, patient was symptoms free and finally able to sleep through the night. No #hysterectomy required. Non-surgical UFE is only performed by a trained Vascular and Interventional Radiologist. MRI before and 6 months post.
#MRI before and 6 months after uterine artery embolization for #adenomyosis with resolution of heavy painful menstrual cycles. There are non-surgical options out there! See a specialist today, #hysterectomy is not the only option! #irad #gynecology #gyn #uae #ufe #embolizaiton
Small #intracavitary #fibroid treated with outpatient #ufe procedure. Minimal downtime. Minimal post op pain. Contact IR specialist if you have #fibroids. #nonsurgical #embolization maybe an option. #fibroidsurgery #health #women #myomectomy #hysterectomy #uae #medicine #surgery
Common questions
About Dr. Allaei
Does Dr. Allaei perform the procedure himself?
Yes. He performs every thyroid ablation and embolization personally, and conducts every appointment himself — not a physician assistant, nurse practitioner or rotating provider. The physician who reviews your imaging is the physician who treats you.
What is Dr. Allaei board certified in?
He is double board-certified in Vascular & Interventional Radiology and in Diagnostic Radiology.
This is the certification that matters for ablation and embolization — and it is not a surgical certification. Thyroid RFA and TAE are image-guided procedures performed through a needle or from inside the arteries, and they are trained for and performed by interventional radiologists — not by surgeons, whose training covers thyroidectomy.
His second certification, in Diagnostic Radiology, is why the same physician who reads your ultrasound — alongside the reporting radiologist — is the one who performs your procedure, which matters when working within millimeters of the voice nerve and carotid artery.
What is the difference between RFA and TAE?
RFA treats a specific nodule directly, with a needle placed through the skin under ultrasound guidance. TAE reduces the blood supply to the gland from inside the arteries, and is generally used for larger goiters or diffuse enlargement rather than a single nodule. Dr. Allaei performs both, so the recommendation follows your anatomy rather than the one procedure available. Read more on RFA vs embolization →
How many procedures has he performed?
More than 10,000 ultrasound-guided and image-guided procedures, spanning thyroid nodule RFA, toxic nodule RFA, parathyroid adenoma RFA, thyroid cancer RFA, thyroid cyst aspiration, thyroid artery embolization and other complex vascular interventions.
Will I still need thyroid medication afterward?
Often the goal of ablation is to treat the nodule while preserving normal thyroid function, which for appropriate patients can mean avoiding lifelong thyroid medication. Whether that applies to you depends on your thyroid function, the nodule, and the rest of the gland — Dr. Allaei will tell you directly what to expect in your case.
Do patients travel to see him?
Yes — patients travel from across the country and internationally. Appointments and imaging review are conducted by video telehealth, so out-of-area patients typically travel only once, for the procedure itself.
Next steps
Explore your options
Non-Surgical
Thyroid Nodule RFA
Ablation through a needle, no incision.
Non-Surgical
Thyroid Artery Embolization
For larger goiters and diffuse enlargement.
Compare
Comparison Chart
RFA, TAE, surgery and iodine, side by side.
Evidence
Clinical Evidence
What the research shows.
Coverage
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Locations
Where he treats
Beverly Hills, California.
Meet with the doctor who will treat you
Request an appointment and Dr. Allaei will personally review your symptoms, ultrasound and biopsy results, walk you through RFA, embolization, surgery and observation, and give you his best recommendation for your specific situation. Available in person or by video telehealth.
