Efficacy On Radiofrequency Ablation According To The Types Of Benign Thyroid Nodules

ObjectiveThis retrospective observational study sought to compare the clinical outcomes of radiofrequency ablation(RFA)for the treatment of cystic-solid and solid benign thyroid nodules and evaluate the clinical outcomes of RFA for BTNs.MethodFrom May 2014 to September 2019,we retrospectively studied 1289 patients(198 men,1091 women)who were diagnosed as benign thyroid nodules(BTNs)by fine-needle aspiration biopsy(FNAB).They were alternately assigned into 2 groups according to the composition of BTNs:solid group(n=262)and cystic-solid group(n=1027).The efficacy including the nodule maximal diameter(MD),volume(V),cosmetic scores(CS),maximal diameter reduction ratio(MDRR),the volume reduction ratio(VRR)and the cosmetic scores reduction ratio(CSRR).The follow-up time was 1 year,and the observation time was 3 months,6 months and 12 months after RFA.ResultIn the solid and cystic-solid groups,the MD,V and CS of nodules at the 3rd,6th,12th month were significantly less than that before RFA(p<0.05).Comparison of these three variables(MD,V and CS)was different among the two groups(p<0.05).No significant differences were found in the gender,age and follow-up time between the two groups(p>0.05).The solid nodule group shrank markedly at 12mo after operation(p<0.05).However,CSRR in the solid group changed significantly at 6mo(p<0.05).By further analysis,we found that the change of MDRR and VRR was consistent to CSRR in the cystic-solid group,all decreased obviously at 6mo.These results suggest that cystic-solid nodules shrank obviously at 6mo after RFA(p<0.05).The whole set of data was applied to testify that BTNs decreased most significantly at the 6th month after RFA(p<0.05).All the above six comparative indices before ablation vs.the observation time in the BTNs group significantly decreased(p<0.05).The results of the nodule MDRR and VRR in the cystic-solid nodule group were significantly better than those in the solid nodule group at the 3rd and 6th month,and the CSRR in the two groups showed statistically significant difference at the 3rd month.ConclusionRFA is an effective method for symptomatic benign solid or cystic-solid nodules.The achieved MDRR and VRR in the cystic-solid nodule group were significantly better than those in the solid nodule group at the 3rd and 6th month.