Efficacy and Safety of Radiofrequency Ablation for Benign Thyroid Nodules: Initial Clinical Experience in Middle East Area

Background: Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is a minimal invasive treatment modality for variable tumors of liver, kidney, bone etc. RFA has been also used to treat benign thyroid nodules to improve patient’s symptoms. However, thyroid RFA has been seldom introduced in middle east area. Method(s): A total 58 benign thyroid nodules in 45 patients (M:F= 8:37, mean age: 39 years ± 12.2) underwent ultrasound (US) guided percutaneous RFA using an internally cooled electrode. We investigated clinical symptom, cosmetic score (4-point scale), composition, thyroid volume. We assessed complications and volume reduction rate (VRR) in follow-up (median: 10 months). Result(s): Clinical manifestation was palpable mass (n= 10), discomfort (n=15), dysphagia (n= 16), voice change (n= 1), dyspnea (n=3). Cosmetic score were 3 (n= 25, cosmetic problem on swallowing only) and 4 (n= 20, readily detected cosmetic problem). Composition was predominantly cystic (n= 3), predominantly solid (n= 6), solid (n= 49). Mean initial thyroid volume was 18.13 ml ± 61.5 (range: 1.12 ~ 208.6). After RFA, mean thyroid volume was 6.07 ml ± 15.4 (0.16 ~ 75.3). Major complications were not detected. Perithyroid hemorrhage occurred during procedure in 3 patients, and it was spontaneously resolved in a month. All patients reported improvement of their symptoms after RFA. Mean VRR was 70.2% ± 25.7 (2.6 – 98.8). Conclusion(s): RFA is an effective and safe nonsurgical therapeutic method to manage benign thyroid nodules, and it can be widely spread in Middle East area.

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Artikel online veröffentlicht:
11. Mai 2021