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Thermal ablation of thyroid nodules: are radiofrequency ablation, microwave ablation and high intensity focused ultrasound equally safe and effective methods?

  • Interventional
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Abstract

Objectives

This study compares volume reduction of benign thyroid nodules three months after Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA), Microwave Ablation (MWA) or High Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) to evaluate which of these methods is the most effective and safe alternative to thyroidectomy or radioiodine therapy.

Material and Methods

Ninety-four patients (39 male, 55 female) with a total of 118 benign, symptomatic thyroid nodules were divided into three subgroups. HIFU was applied to 14 patients with small nodules. The other 80 patients were divided up into two groups of 40 patients each for RFA and MWA in the assumption that both methods are comparable effective. The pre-ablative and post-ablative volume was measured by ultrasound.

Results

RFA showed a significant volume reduction of nodules of 50 % (p<0.05), MWA of 44 % (p<0.05) and HIFU of 48 % (p<0.05) three months after ablation. None of the examined ablation techniques caused serious or permanent complications.

Conclusion

RFA, MWA and HIFU showed comparable results considering volume reduction. All methods are safe and effective treatments of benign thyroid nodules.

Key Points

• Thermal Ablation can be used to treat benign thyroid nodules

• Thermal Ablation can be an alternative to thyroidectomy or radioiodine therapy

• Radiofrequency Ablation, Microwave Ablation, High Intensity Focused Ultrasound are safe and effective

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Funding

The authors state that this work has not received any funding.

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Author notes

  1. Yücel Korkusuz and Daniel Gröner contributed equally to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital Frankfurt, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, D-60590, Frankfurt/Main, Germany

    Yücel Korkusuz, Daniel Gröner, Natascha Raczynski, Oleg Relin, Yasmina Kingeter, Frank Grünwald & Christian Happel

  2. German Centre for Thermoablation of Thyroid Nodules, University Hospital Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany

    Yücel Korkusuz, Daniel Gröner, Frank Grünwald & Christian Happel

Authors
  1. Yücel Korkusuz
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  2. Daniel Gröner
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  3. Natascha Raczynski
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  4. Oleg Relin
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  5. Yasmina Kingeter
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  6. Frank Grünwald
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  7. Christian Happel
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Natascha Raczynski.

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Guarantor

The scientific guarantor of this publication is Dr. Hüdayi Korkusuz.

Conflict of interest

The authors of this manuscript declare no relationships with any companies, whose products or services may be related to the subject matter of the article.

Statistics and biometry

No complex statistical methods were necessary for this paper.

Ethical approval

Institutional Review Board approval was obtained.

Informed consent

Written informed consent was obtained from all subjects (patients) in this study.

Methodology

• retrospective

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• performed at one institution

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Korkusuz, Y., Gröner, D., Raczynski, N. et al. Thermal ablation of thyroid nodules: are radiofrequency ablation, microwave ablation and high intensity focused ultrasound equally safe and effective methods?. Eur Radiol 28, 929–935 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-017-5039-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-017-5039-x

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