Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Treatment of thyroid nodules with radiofrequency: a 1-year follow-up experience

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Journal of Ultrasound Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

The aim of this study is to assess the effectiveness and safety of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) in debulking benign solid thyroid nodules.

Materials and methods

This is a retrospective review of 77 patients with predominantly solid thyroid nodules treated with RFA in a single center between 2013 and 2016. All patients declined or were not eligible for surgery. Benign proven thyroid nodules causing compressive symptoms and cosmetic concerns were considered for treatment. Nodule volume, thyroid nodule related compressive symptoms, cosmetic concerns and thyroid function were evaluated.

Results

All patients underwent a single treatment session. Mean nodule volume decreased from 17.9 ± 15.6 mL at baseline to 5.2 ± 7.4 after 12 months with a volume reduction ratio (VRR) of 70.9% ± 20.8%. There were no identifiable factors predictive of response to RFA. Median cosmetic and symptom scores of the entire population decreased from 3 [2–4] and 3 [0–10] to 1 [1–3] (p < 0.001) and 0 [0–5] (p < 0.001), respectively. No major complications occurred and RFA did not affect thyroid function when normal.

Conclusion

RFA induces substantial volume reduction of predominantly solid thyroid nodules and improves compressive symptoms and cosmetic concerns. RFA does not impact normal thyroid function and has an acceptable safety profile.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Gharib H, Hegedus L, Pacella CM, Baek JH, Papini E (2013) Clinical review: nonsurgical, image-guided, minimally invasive therapy for thyroid nodules. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 98(10):3949–3957

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Pacella CM, Papini E, Fabbrini R, Bizzarri G, Anelli V, Rinaldi G, Crescenzi A (1995) Ultrasound-guided percutaneous interstitial laser ablation of thyroid nodules. Feasibility study. In: Edited by E.C.R.'95. Vienna: European Congress Radiology, Vienna, 5–10 Marzo 1995

  3. Pacella CM, Bizzarri G, Guglielmi R, Anelli V, Bianchini A, Crescenzi A, Pacella S, Papini E (2000) Thyroid tissue: US-guided percutaneous interstitial laser ablation-a feasibility study. Radiology 217(3):673-677

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Papini E, Rago T, Gambelunghe G, Valcavi R, Bizzarri G, Vitti P, De Feo P, Riganti F, Misischi I, Di Stasio E et al (2014) Long-term efficacy of ultrasound-guided laser ablation for benign solid thyroid nodules: results of a 3-year multicenter prospective randomized trial. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 99(10):3653–3659

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Pacella CM, Mauri G, Achille G, Barbaro D, Bizzarri G, De Feo P, Di Stasio E, Esposito R, Gambelunghe G, Misischi I et al (2015) Outcomes and risk factors for complications of laser ablation for thyroid nodules: a multicenter study on 1531 patients. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 100(10):3903–3910

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Kim YS, Rhim H, Tae K, Park DW, Kim ST (2006) Radiofrequency ablation of benign cold thyroid nodules: initial clinical experience. Thyroid 16(4):361–367

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Jeong WK, Baek JH, Rhim H, Kim YS, Kwak MS, Jeong HJ, Lee D (2008) Radiofrequency ablation of benign thyroid nodules: safety and imaging follow-up in 236 patients. Eur Radiol 18(6):1244–1250

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Baek JH, Kim YS, Lee D, Huh JY, Lee JH (2010) Benign predominantly solid thyroid nodules: prospective study of efficacy of sonographically guided radiofrequency ablation versus control condition. AJR Am J Roentgenol 194(4):1137–1142

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Faggiano A, Ramundo V, Assanti AP, Fonderico F, Macchia PE, Misso C, Marciello F, Marotta V, Del Prete M, Papini E et al (2012) Thyroid nodules treated with percutaneous radiofrequency thermal ablation: a comparative study. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 97(12):4439–4445

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Lim HK, Lee JH, Ha EJ, Sung JY, Kim JK, Baek JH (2013) Radiofrequency ablation of benign non-functioning thyroid nodules: 4-year follow-up results for 111 patients. Eur Radiol 23(4):1044–1049

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Cesareo R, Pasqualini V, Simeoni C, Sacchi M, Saralli E, Campagna G, Cianni R (2015) Prospective study of effectiveness of ultrasound-guided radiofrequency ablation versus control group in patients affected by benign thyroid nodules. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 100(2):460–466

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Deandrea M, Sung JY, Limone P, Mormile A, Garino F, Ragazzoni F, Kim KS, Lee D, Baek JH (2015) Efficacy and safety of radiofrequency ablation versus observation for nonfunctioning benign thyroid nodules: a randomized controlled international collaborative trial. Thyroid 25(8):890–896

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Nardi F, Basolo F, Crescenzi A, Fadda G, Frasoldati A, Orlandi F, Palombini L, Papini E, Zini M, Pontecorvi A et al (2014) Italian consensus for the classification and reporting of thyroid cytology. J Endocrinol Invest 6:593–599

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Na DG, Lee JH, Jung SL, Kim JH, Sung JY, Shin JH, Kim EK, Kim DW, Park JS, Kim KS et al (2012) Radiofrequency ablation of benign thyroid nodules and recurrent thyroid cancers: consensus statement and recommendations. Korean J Radiol 13(2):117–125

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  15. Mainini AP, Monaco C, Pescatori LC, De Angelis C, Sardanelli F, Sconfienza LM, Mauri G (2016) Image-guided thermal ablation of benign thyroid nodules. J Ultrasound 20(1):11–22

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  16. Baek JH, Moon WJ, Kim YS, Lee JH, Lee D (2009) Radiofrequency ablation for the treatment of autonomously functioning thyroid nodules. World J Surg 33(9):1971–1977

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Ahmed M, Solbiati L, Brace CL, Breen DJ, Callstrom MR, Charboneau JW, Chen MH, Choi BI, de Baere T, Dodd GD, et al (2014) Image-guided tumor ablation: standardization of terminology and reporting criteria—a 10-year update. J Vasc Interv Radiol 25(11):1691–1705e1694

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Sacks D, McClenny TE, Cardella JF, Lewis CA (2003) Society of Interventional Radiology clinical practice guidelines. J Vasc Interv Radiol 14(9 Pt 2):S199–S202

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Huh JY, Baek JH, Choi H, Kim JK, Lee JH (2012) Symptomatic benign thyroid nodules: efficacy of additional radiofrequency ablation treatment session—prospective randomized study. Radiology 263(3):909–916

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Garberoglio R, Aliberti C, Appetecchia M, Attard M, Boccuzzi G, Boraso F, Borretta G, Caruso G, Deandrea M, Freddi M, Gallone G, Gandini G, Gasparri G, Gazzera C, Ghigo E, Grosso M, Limone P, Maccario M, Mansi L, Mormile A, Nasi PG, Orlandi F, Pacchioni D, Pacella CM, Palestini N, Papini E, Pelizzo MR, Piotto A, Rago T, Riganti F, Rosato L, Rossetto R, Scarmozzino A, Spiezia S, Testori O, Valcavi R, Veltri A, Vitti P, Zingrillo M (2015) Radiofrequency ablation for thyroid nodules: which indications? The first Italian opinion statement. J Ultrasound 18(4):423–430

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  21. Stoll SJ, Pitt SC, Liu J, Schaefer S, Sippel RS, Chen H (2009) Thyroid hormone replacement after thyroid lobectomy. Surgery 146(4):554–558 (discussion 558–560)

  22. Verloop H, Louwerens M, Schoones JW, Kievit J, Smit JW, Dekkers OM (2012) Risk of hypothyroidism following hemithyroidectomy: systematic review and meta-analysis of prognostic studies. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 97(7):2243–2255

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Wojtczak B, Sutkowski K, Kaliszewski K, Glod M, Barczynski M (2017) Experience with intraoperative neuromonitoring of the recurrent laryngeal nerve improves surgical skills and outcomes of non-monitored thyroidectomy. Langenbeck's Arch Surg 402(4):709–717

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Bernardi S, Dobrinja C, Fabris B, Bazzocchi G, Sabato N, Ulcigrai V, Giacca M, Barro E, De Manzini N, Stacul F (2014) Radiofrequency ablation compared to surgery for the treatment of benign thyroid nodules. Int J Endocrinol 204:934595

    Google Scholar 

  25. Che Y, Jin S, Shi C, Wang L, Zhang X, Li Y, Baek JH (2015) Treatment of benign thyroid nodules: comparison of surgery with radiofrequency ablation. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 36(7):1321–1325

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Pacella CM, Mauri G, Cesareo R, Paqualini V, Cianni R, De Feo P, Gambelunghe G, Raggiunti B, Tina D, Deandrea M et al (2017) A comparison of laser with radiofrequency ablation for the treatment of benign thyroid nodules: a propensity score matching analysis. Int J Hyperth 33:1–9

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Mauri G, Cova L, Monaco CG, Sconfienza LM, Corbetta S, Benedini S, Ambrogi F, Milani V, Baroli A, Ierace T et al (2016) Benign thyroid nodules treatment using percutaneous laser ablation (PLA) and radiofrequency ablation (RFA). Int J Hyperth 33:1–5

    Google Scholar 

  28. Sim JS, Baek JH, Lee J, Cho W, Jung SI (2017) Radiofrequency ablation of benign thyroid nodules: depicting early sign of regrowth by calculating vital volume. Int J Hyperth 33(8):905–910

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Author notes

  1. Paolo Rabuffi and Enrico Di Stasio equally contributed to the present manuscript.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Endocrinology, Azienda Ospedaliera San Giovanni Addolorata, Rome, Italy

    Antonio Spada, Daniela Bosco & Assunta Santonati

  2. Department of Interventional Radiology, San Giovanni Addolorata Hospital, Rome, Italy

    Paolo Rabuffi, Antonio Bruni, Simone Vagnarelli & Cesare Ambrogi

  3. Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli-IRCCS, Istituto di Biochimica e Biochimica Clinica, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy

    Enrico Di Stasio

Authors
  1. Paolo Rabuffi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Antonio Spada
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Daniela Bosco
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Antonio Bruni
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Simone Vagnarelli
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Cesare Ambrogi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Enrico Di Stasio
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Assunta Santonati
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Paolo Rabuffi.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

All other authors have 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.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Rabuffi, P., Spada, A., Bosco, D. et al. Treatment of thyroid nodules with radiofrequency: a 1-year follow-up experience. J Ultrasound 22, 193–199 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40477-019-00375-4

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40477-019-00375-4

Keywords

Search

Navigation