Cooled Tip Radiofrequency Ablation of Benign Thyroid Nodules: Preliminary Experience with Two Different Devices

Overview

Journal Gland Surg

Publisher AME Publishing Company

Specialty Endocrinology

Date 2018 May 18

PMID 29770303

Citations 5

Authors

Francesco Morelli

Anna Maria Ierardi

Giovanni Pompili

Andrea Sacrini

Pierpaolo Biondetti

Salvatore Alessio Angileri

Giovanni Montesano

Mario Petrillo

Roberta Giacchero

Gianlorenzo Dionigi

Gianpaolo Carrafiello

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: Thyroid nodules are very common in general population. Even if benign, they may require a treatment in case of symptoms or cosmetic concerns. In the last years, minimally invasive treatments alternative to surgery have been developed, in particular ultrasound (US) guided radiofrequency ablation (RFA).

Methods: Twenty-four patients (9 males; 15 females; mean age 57.9 years) were treated and divided in two groups (A and B) according to the RFA needle used (18 gauge needle, AMICA; 17 gauge needle, COVIDIEN). Nodules and patients characteristics, together with procedural data were registered pre-treatment and at 1-month follow-up. US visibility of the needle, volume of the nodules, symptoms and cosmetic concerns, complications were registered.

Results: Visibility of the needle was not significantly different in the two groups (P=0.0787). At 1 month the mean volume of the nodules dropped from 37.1 to 25 mL in group A and from 23.2 to 15.4 mL in group B; shrinkage rate (36.9% and 39.5%, respectively) was not significantly different (P=0.3137). Symptoms decreased from 3.1 to 1.4 in group A and from 4 to 1.6 in group B: no significant differences in reductions were observed (P=0.3305). Cosmetic score decreased from 3.7 to 3.4 in group A and from 3.9 to 3.6 in group B: no significant differences in reductions were observed (P=0.96). Total complication rate (18.2% in group A 23.1% in group B) did not showed significant differences (P=0.5049).

Conclusions: The two systems used in our study resulted equivalent in terms of US needle visibility, efficacy, symptom/cosmetic relief, safety. More patients and a longer follow-up are necessary to confirm our results.

Citing Articles

Development and preclinical evaluation of multifunctional hydrogel for precise thermal protection during thermal ablation.

Zheng B, Zhang P, Lv Q, Wu T, Liu Y, Tang J Bioact Mater. 2023; 31:119-135.

PMID: 37637083 PMC: 10448243. DOI: 10.1016/j.bioactmat.2023.08.010.

Continuous, Large-Volume Hydrodissection to Protect Delicate Structures around the Thyroid throughout the Radiofrequency Ablation Procedure.

Ma Y, Wu T, Yao Z, Zheng B, Tan L, Tong G Eur Thyroid J. 2021; 10(6):495-503.

PMID: 34956921 PMC: 8647085. DOI: 10.1159/000519625.

Efficacy on radiofrequency ablation according to the types of benign thyroid nodules.

Li J, Xue W, Xu P, Deng Z, Duan C, Zhang D Sci Rep. 2021; 11(1):22270.

PMID: 34782643 PMC: 8593160. DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-01593-9.

The importance of subcapsular anesthesia in the anesthesiological management for thyroid radiofrequency ablation.

Morelli F, Ierardi A, Biondetti P, Zannoni S, Pompili G, Sacrini A Med Oncol. 2020; 37(4):22.

PMID: 32166544 DOI: 10.1007/s12032-020-01347-z.

Interventional radiology of glands.

Carrafiello G Gland Surg. 2018; 7(2):57-58.

PMID: 29770301 PMC: 5938277. DOI: 10.21037/gs.2018.03.03.

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