Efficacy and safety of ultrasound (US)-guided radiofrequency ablation of benign thyroid nodules

Background: We evaluated 45 benign thyroid nodules of 40 patients treated with radiofrequency (RF) ablation and followed up for 6 months. The inclusion criteria included unilateral or bilateral thyroid nodules with compression symptoms or cosmetic problems, cytological confirmation of benignity without atypical cells, and patient refusal or unfit for surgery. There was no predilection for the size, number, ultrasound nature of the nodules, (solid, cystic, or complex). RF ablation was performed using Mygen (M-3004) RF generator from RF Medical Co., Ltd, South Korea. The volume of the nodules and clinical problems were evaluated before and after the procedure. Complications and factors related to volume reduction were evaluated. The purpose of the study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of US-guided radiofrequency (RF) ablation in the treatment of benign thyroid nodules. Results: The volume reduction ratio (%) of the thyroid nodules was statistically significant. The mean VRR was 58.41 +/- 15.27SD at 1 month, 73.26 +/- 11.22SD at 3 months, and 82.54 +/- 12.49SD at 6 months. P value was < 0.001. The radiofrequency ablation did not affect the normal thyroid function of the 38 patients who were euthyroid at the start of the study. Thyroid function normalized 1 month after ablation of the two autonomously functioning thyroid nodules. The compressive symptoms resolved in 22 patients (55%) and improved in the rest of the 18 patients (45%) with the median decreased from 8 (IQR 6-9), range 4-10 before treatment to 0 (IQR 0-1), range 0-3 after 6 months. Cosmetic problems improved in all 40 patients by P value < 0.001. The procedure had no sustained or life-threatening complications. Conclusions: RF ablation was effective in reducing the size of the benign thyroid nodules and in controlling nodule-related compressive symptoms as well as cosmetic problems. There were no major complications sustained and no life-threatening complications or sequelae happened. RF ablation can be used as an alternative non-surgical minimally invasive treatment for patients with benign thyroid nodules.