Clinical and functional results of radiofrequency ablation and microwave ablation in patients with benign thyroid nodules
Mirkhalig Javadov, Emrah Karatay, Mustafa Ümit Uğurlu
Abstract
<h3>Objectives:</h3> To determine how well ultrasound-guidance percutaneous radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and microwave ablation (MWA) performed for benign symptomatic thyroid nodules in terms of clinical and functional outcomes. <h3>Methods:</h3> Patients who had a thyroid nodule-linked symptoms acting as dysphagia, cosmetic issues, pain, a foreign body sense, hyperthyroidism secondary to autonomous nodules, or concern of malignancy were involved in the study. The primary was the comparison in symptom scores obtained at 1, 3, and 6 months after RFA and MWA. The volume alterations in nodules and alterations in thyroid gland functions were secondary objectives. <h3>Results:</h3> This prospective study carried out from November 2014 and January 2017 at the General Surgery Department, Marmara University, Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey included a total of 100 nodules (50% MWA, 50% RFA). There were statistically significance in pain scores, dysphagia scores, and foreign body sensation scores at 1, 3, and 6 months after therapy in both ablation groups (<i>p</i>=0.0006, <i>p</i>=00004, <i>p</i>=0.0005). At the same time, there were statistically significant reductions in size and volume of the nodules for RFA and MWA (<i>p</i>=0.0004, <i>p</i>=0.0003). There was no significant difference between the RFA and MWA groups’ cosmetic scoring and volume changes (<i>p</i>=0.68, <i>p</i>=0.43). <h3>Conclusions:</h3> Alternative therapies for benign symptomatic thyroid nodules include RFA and MWA. The findings of this research revealed that both approaches are safe and effective.