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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2015 Nov-Dec;16(6):1332-40.
doi: 10.3348/kjr.2015.16.6.1332. Epub 2015 Oct 26.

Radiofrequency versus Ethanol Ablation for Treating Predominantly Cystic Thyroid Nodules: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Jung Hwan Baek  1 , Eun Ju Ha  2 , Young Jun Choi  1 , Jin Yong Sung  3 , Jae Kyun Kim  4 , Young Kee Shong  5
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Radiofrequency versus Ethanol Ablation for Treating Predominantly Cystic Thyroid Nodules: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Jung Hwan Baek et al. Korean J Radiol. 2015 Nov-Dec.

Abstract

Objective: To compare single-session radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and ethanol ablation (EA) for treating predominantly cystic thyroid nodules (PCTNs).

Materials and methods: This single-blind, randomized trial was approved by the Institutional Review Board of two centers and informed consent was obtained from all patients before enrollment. Fifty patients with a single PCTN (cystic portion less than 90% and greater than 50%) were randomly assigned to be treated by either RFA (25 patients) or EA (25 patients) at two hospitals. The primary outcome was the tumor volume reduction ratio (%) at the six-month follow-up and the superiority margin was set at 13% (RFA minus EA). Analysis was performed primarily in an intention-to-treat manner. The secondary outcomes were the therapeutic success rate, improvement of symptomatic and cosmetic problems, and the number of major complications.

Results: The mean volume reduction was 87.5 ± 11.5% for RFA (n = 22) and 82.4 ± 28.6% for EA (n = 24) (p = 0.710; mean difference [95% confidence interval], 5.1% [-8.0 to 18.2]), indicating no significant difference. Regarding the secondary outcomes, therapeutic success (p = 0.490), mean symptom (p = 0.205) and cosmetic scores (p = 0.710) showed no difference. There were no major complications in either group (p > 0.99).

Conclusion: The therapeutic efficacy of RFA is not superior to that of EA; therefore, EA might be preferable as the first-line treatment for PCTNs.

Keywords: Ethanol; Predominantly cystic thyroid nodule; Radiofrequency; Thyroid; Ultrasound.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1. Flowchart of patient enrollment process.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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