Clinical and functional results of radiofrequency ablation and microwave ablation in patients with benign thyroid nodules.

OBJECTIVES

To determine how well ultrasound-guidance percutaneous radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and microwave ablation (MWA) performed for benign symptomatic thyroid nodules in terms of clinical and functional outcomes.

METHODS

Patients who had a thyroid nodule-linked symptoms acting as dysphagia, cosmetic issues, pain, a foreign body sense, hyperthyroidism secondary to autonomous nodules, or concern of malignancy were involved in the study. The primary was the comparison in symptom scores obtained at 1, 3, and 6 months after RFA and MWA. The volume alterations in nodules and alterations in thyroid gland functions were secondary objectives.

RESULTS

This prospective study carried out from November 2014 and January 2017 at the General Surgery Department, Marmara University, Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey included a total of 100 nodules (50% MWA, 50% RFA). There were statistically significance in pain scores, dysphagia scores, and foreign body sensation scores at 1, 3, and 6 months after therapy in both ablation groups (=0.0006, =00004, =0.0005). At the same time, there were statistically significant reductions in size and volume of the nodules for RFA and MWA (=0.0004, =0.0003). There was no significant difference between the RFA and MWA groups' cosmetic scoring and volume changes (=0.68, =0.43).

CONCLUSIONS

Alternative therapies for benign symptomatic thyroid nodules include RFA and MWA. The findings of this research revealed that both approaches are safe and effective.