Abstract
Purpose
The increasing prevalence of thyroid nodules, coupled with the desire to minimize
the invasiveness and potential complications associated with surgical interventions,
underscores the critical need for exploring alternative therapeutic strategies.
Objectives
To evaluate the role of percutaneous radiofrequency ablation in the management of
benign thyroid nodules.
Methods
Forty-five consecutive patients who presented with evidence of symptomatic benign
thyroid nodules and were categorized under TIRADS 1 or 2 and BETHESDA II scoring were
selected for percutaneous ablation.
Results
About 86.7% were women with a mean (±standard deviation [SD]) age being 44.4 (± 5.4)
years. Radiofrequency ablation was done for 45 patients with solid or predominantly
solid thyroid nodules. Majority of them (79.66%) reported a reduction in symptom score
after ablation. The mean (± SD) volume of the nodules at baseline was 35.03 (± 17.2)
mL, which significantly (p = 0.05) dropped to 7.44 (± 4.1) mL at 1 year of follow-up. The average volume reduction
rate was 79.66% at 1 year, with the maximum rate of volume reduction observed at the
first month of follow-up.
Conclusion
Percutaneous radiofrequency ablation is a safer and an effective alternative to surgery
for managing benign thyroid nodules.
Keywords
minimally invasive surgical procedures - radiofrequency ablation - thyroid nodule
- ultrasound
