Thyroid Nodules Treated with Percutaneous Radiofrequency Thermal Ablation: A Comparative Study

Purpose: Percutaneous radiofrequency thermal ablation (RTA) was reported as an effective tool for the management of thyroid nodules (TNs). The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of RTA and to establish whether they were treatment-related by comparison with a matched, untreated control...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:The journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism 2012-12, Vol.97 (12), p.4439-4445
Main Authors: Faggiano, A, Ramundo, V, Assanti, A. P, Fonderico, F, Macchia, P. E, Misso, C, Marciello, F, Marotta, V, Del Prete, M, Papini, E, Lombardi, G, Colao, A, Spiezia, S
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Antithyroid Agents - therapeutic use
Biological and medical sciences
Biopsy, Fine-Needle
Catheter Ablation - adverse effects
Catheter Ablation - methods
Combined Modality Therapy
Endocrinopathies
Feeding. Feeding behavior
Female
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Humans
Male
Matched-Pair Analysis
Medical sciences
Methimazole - therapeutic use
Middle Aged
Non tumoral diseases. Target tissue resistance. Benign neoplasms
Thyroid Nodule - complications
Thyroid Nodule - diagnostic imaging
Thyroid Nodule - pathology
Thyroid Nodule - surgery
Thyroid. Thyroid axis (diseases)
Thyrotoxicosis - complications
Thyrotoxicosis - diagnostic imaging
Thyrotoxicosis - drug therapy
Thyrotoxicosis - surgery
Treatment Outcome
Tumor Burden
Ultrasonography
Vertebrates: anatomy and physiology, studies on body, several organs or systems
Vertebrates: endocrinology
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Purpose: Percutaneous radiofrequency thermal ablation (RTA) was reported as an effective tool for the management of thyroid nodules (TNs). The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of RTA and to establish whether they were treatment-related by comparison with a matched, untreated control group. Patients and Methods: The study population included 40 patients with compressive TNs: 22 had nontoxic TNs, and 18 had toxic TNs and were treated with methimazole. In all patients, a fine-needle aspiration cytology was performed to exclude a thyroid malignancy. Study Design: Twenty patients were treated with RTA (group A), and 20 others did not receive any treatment (group B). At baseline, age, gender, and TN features did not differ significantly between groups. All patients were clinically, biochemically, and morphologically evaluated at baseline and after 1, 3, 6, and 12 months. Results: TN volume significantly decreased in group A (1.8 ± 0.3 ml at 12 months vs. 13.3 ± 1.8 ml at baseline; P < 0.0001) and remained stable in group B [11.7 ± 1.5 ml at 12 months vs. 11.2 ± 1.5 ml at baseline; P = not significant (NS)]. At 3-, 6-, and 12-month evaluations, TN volume was significantly lower in group A than in group B (P < 0.005). At the end of the follow-up, pressure symptoms were improved in all patients in group A but persisted unchanged in group B. In group A, hyperthyroidism completely recovered in 40% and improved in 40% of patients with toxic TNs, whereas it persisted in all patients with toxic TNs in group B. RTA was safe and well tolerated in all patients. Conclusions: RTA induced a marked TN volume shrinkage resulting in parallel improvement of pressure symptoms. In most patients with toxic TNs, hyperthyroidism significantly improved as well. RTA may represent a valid therapeutic approach in patients with TNs not receiving conventional treatments.
ISSN:0021-972X
1945-7197
DOI:10.1210/jc.2012-2251