Short-term safety and efficacy of radiofrequency ablation vs.microwave ablation for patients with large benign thyroid nodules / 复旦学报（医学版）

ABSTRACT

Objective To compare the short-term safety and efficacy of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and microwave ablation (MWA) for treatment of large benign thyroid nodules.Methods A total of 34 patients with large benign thyroid nodules were studied retrospectively,including 13 patients treated with ultrasound-guided RFA and 21 patients treated with MWA between Jun.,2016 and Feb.,2017 in Zhongshan Hospital.The thyroid function parameters,serum antibodies,complications and thyroid nodules volume reduction rate(VRR) were compared between the two groups during the follow-up.Results There were no statistically significant differences(P＞0.05)among those patients before and after treatment in serum free triiodothyronine (fT3),free thyroxine (fT4),thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH),anti-thyroglobulin antibodies (TG-Ab) levels,and thyroid peroxidase antibodies (TPO-Ab).One patient in the MWA group had mild hoarseness after ablation and another patient in the RFA group had intraoperative hemorrhage for about 10 mL.There were no other complications such as neck scar,postoperative infection,skin burns,tracheal and esophageal injury.One day after the ablation,all nodules were showed hypoecho and contrast-enhanced ultrasound proved there was no blood supply.One month after treatment,no statistically significant difference was found in VRR between two groups (23.8％ vs.22.6％,P =0.127).Conclusions RFA and MWA are safe and effective treatments for large benign thyroid nodules,and no significant difference was observed in short-term follow-up.