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

Abstract

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 (p=0.0006, p=00004, p=0.0005). At the same time, there were statistically significant reductions in size and volume of the nodules for RFA and MWA (p=0.0004, p=0.0003). There was no significant difference between the RFA and MWA groups' cosmetic scoring and volume changes (p=0.68, p=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.

Keywords: microwave ablation; radiofrequency ablation; symptom score; thyroid, benign nodule.

Figure 1

- Using the World Health Organization cosmetic scoring, a 50 year-old male patient who underwent radiofrequency ablation; A) before ablation (score 4), B) one month follow-up (score 3), C) 3 months follow-up (score 3), and D) 6 months follow-up (score 2) macroscopic view is available.

Figure 1

- Ultrasound follow-up of a 43 year-old female case that applied microwave ablation; A) before the procedure, B) one month, C) 3 months, and D) 6 months ultrasound examinations draw attention to the decrease in nodule sizes and volume.