Purpose

To compare the effectiveness of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for benign thyroid nodules (BTNs) among groups presenting with different nodule volumes.

Materials and methods

This retrospective study evaluated 186 patients with BTNs who underwent ultrasound guided RFA treatment. The BTNs were categorized into small (≤10 ml); medium (10-30 ml); and large (>30 ml) according to the initial volume of BTNs before ablation. The RFA procedures were performed using the moving shot technique. The volume reduction ratio (VRR) of each nodule, cosmetic score, symptomatic score, and complications were analyzed at 1, 3, and 6 months after RFA treatment and the three groups compared.

Results

At 1-month follow-up, the large nodules group showed significantly greater VRR compared to the other two groups (small, 31.88% ± 37.91; medium, 38.9% ± 19.18; large, 48.7% ± 20.43, p = .03). At 6-month follow-up, there was no significant difference of VRR among the three groups (small, 74.6% ± 20.92; medium, 68.1% ± 17.07; large, 75.0% ± 11.88). The most common presented complication was temporary vocal palsy (6 patients; small, n = 1; medium, n = 1; large, n = 3). Additionally, one skin burn, one hematoma, and one nodular rupture of BTNs occurred after the procedures. The complication rate of the large nodules group was highest among the three groups and showed a considerable difference (8 patients; small, n = 1, 2.1%; medium, n = 2, 4.5%; large, n = 5, 11.4%, p = .061).

Conclusions

RFA was confirmed as effective in patients with large thyroid nodule (>30ml), with therapeutic efficacy similar to patients with smaller thyroid nodules.

中文翻译：

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单次射频消融治疗不同大小甲状腺良性结节的疗效和安全性：一项回顾性研究。

目的

在存在不同结节量的组之间比较射频消融（RFA）对甲状腺良性结节（BTN）的有效性。

材料和方法

这项回顾性研究评估了186名接受超声引导的RFA治疗的BTN患者。BTN分为小（≤10 ml）；培养基（10-30毫升）；根据消融前BTN的初始体积，选择大（> 30 ml）。使用移动射击技术执行RFA程序。在RFA治疗后1、3和6个月分析每个结节的体积缩小率（VRR），美容评分，症状评分和并发症，并比较三组。

结果

在1个月的随访中，大结节组的VRR显着高于其他两组（小组为31.88％±37.91；中型为38.9％±19.18；大组为48.7％±20.43，p  = .03）。在6个月的随访中，三组之间的VRR没有显着差异（小，为74.6％±20.92；中，为68.1％±17.07；大，为75.0％±11.88）。出现的最常见并发症是暂时性声带麻痹（6例；小，n  = 1；中，n  = 1；大，n  = 3）。此外，手术后发生了1次皮肤灼伤，1次血肿和1次BTN结节性破裂。大结节组的并发症发生率在三组中最高，差异显着（8例；小，n = 1，2.1％; 中，n  = 2，4.5％；大，n  = 5，11.4％，p  = .061）。

结论

RFA被证实对甲状腺结节较大（> 30ml）的患者有效，其治疗效果与甲状腺结节较小的患者相似。