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Single-session radiofrequency ablation on benign thyroid nodules: a prospective single center study

Radiofrequency ablation on thyroid

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Abstract

Purpose

The activity of the application of single-session ultrasonography (US)-guided percutaneous radio frequency ablation (RFA) in benign thyroid nodules was investigated in this prospective clinical study.

Methods

RFA treatment was applied to 100 nodules in 100 patients (78 women, 22 men; average age 44.5 years old; age range 18–71) who had euthyroid condition, nodule size larger than 1 cm in the ultrasonography, proven to be benign by fine needle aspiration cytology. The nodules were separated into three groups according to the content: solid, cystic and mixed. In first 73 cases, the process performed under local anesthesia and the other 27 cases were performed under general anesthesia. RFA process was standardized to 70 W in all of the patients, and a moving shot technique was used. The results acquired in the third and sixth months of the controls were evaluated, and the volume of the nodules was screened.

Results

No differences between the thyroid function tests performed before and after RFA were detected (p > 0.05). The mean volume of the nodules before the process, in the third month after the process, and in the sixth month were 16.8, 4.8, and 2.6 ml, respectively (p < 0.001). The decrease in cystic nodules was greater than solid and mixed structures. Temporary hoarseness occurred in one case and skin edema was detected in a patient at the isthmus.

Conclusions

RFA is an option for treatment, with minimal invasiveness and a low complication rate, and it is effective primarily in cases with benign nodules and nodular goiter. In cases with good compliance, the likelihood of success is greater. General anesthesia can be a good option for anxious cases to gather better results.

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Authors’ contribution

  • Study conception and design: Erhan Aysan and Ufuk Oguz Idiz

  • Acquisition of data: Huseyin Akbulut and Leyla Elmas

  • Analysis and interpretation of data: Erhan Aysan, Ufuk Oguz Idiz, Leyla Elmas, and Huseyin Akbulut

  • Drafting of manuscript: Ufuk Oguz Idiz and Huseyin Akbulut

  • Critical revision of manuscript: Erhan Aysan

Author information

Author notes

  1. Ufuk Oguz Idiz

    Present address: Sisli Etfal Training and Research Hospital, Department of General Surgery, Istanbul, Turkey

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of General Surgery, Bezmialem Vakif University, Faculty of Medicine, Fatih, Istanbul, Turkey

    Erhan Aysan, Ufuk Oguz Idiz, Huseyin Akbulut & Leyla Elmas

Authors
  1. Erhan Aysan
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  2. Ufuk Oguz Idiz
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ufuk Oguz Idiz.

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Conflict of interest

Author Erhan Aysan declares that he/she has no conflict of interest. Author Ufuk Oguz Idiz declares that he/she has no conflict of interest. Author Huseyin Akbulut declares that he/she has no conflict of interest. Author Leyla Elmas declares that he/she has no conflict of interest.

Ethical approval

All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

Informed consent

Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study

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Aysan, E., Idiz, U.O., Akbulut, H. et al. Single-session radiofrequency ablation on benign thyroid nodules: a prospective single center study. Langenbecks Arch Surg 401, 357–363 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00423-016-1408-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00423-016-1408-1

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