TY  - JOUR
AU  - Morelli, Francesco
AU  - Ierardi, Anna Maria
AU  - Pompili, Giovanni
AU  - Sacrini, Andrea
AU  - Biondetti, Pierpaolo
AU  - Angileri, Salvatore Alessio
AU  - Montesano, Giovanni
AU  - Petrillo, Mario
AU  - Giacchero, Roberta
AU  - Dionigi, Gianlorenzo
AU  - Carrafiello, Gianpaolo
PY  - 2018
TI  - Cooled tip radiofrequency ablation of benign thyroid nodules: preliminary experience with two different devices
JF  - Gland Surgery; Vol 7, No 2 (April 03, 2018): Gland Surgery (Interventional Radiology in Glands)
Y2  - 2018
KW  - 
N2  - Background: Thyroid nodules are very common in general population. Even if benign, they may require a treatment in case of symptoms or cosmetic concerns. In the last years, minimally invasive treatments alternative to surgery have been developed, in particular ultrasound (US) guided radiofrequency ablation (RFA).   Methods: Twenty-four patients (9 males; 15 females; mean age 57.9 years) were treated and divided in two groups (A and B) according to the RFA needle used (18 gauge needle, AMICA; 17 gauge needle, COVIDIEN). Nodules and patients characteristics, together with procedural data were registered pretreatment and at 1-month follow-up. US visibility of the needle, volume of the nodules, symptoms and cosmetic concerns, complications were registered.   Results: Visibility of the needle was not significantly different in the two groups (P=0.0787). At 1 month the mean volume of the nodules dropped from 37.1 to 25 mL in group A and from 23.2 to 15.4 mL in group B; shrinkage rate (36.9% and 39.5%, respectively) was not significantly different (P=0.3137). Symptoms decreased from 3.1 to 1.4 in group A and from 4 to 1.6 in group B: no significant differences in reductions were observed (P=0.3305). Cosmetic score decreased from 3.7 to 3.4 in group A and from 3.9 to 3.6 in group B: no significant differences in reductions were observed (P=0.96). Total complication rate (18.2% in group A vs. 23.1% in group B) did not showed significant differences (P=0.5049).   Conclusions: The two systems used in our study resulted equivalent in terms of US needle visibility, efficacy, symptom/cosmetic relief, safety. More patients and a longer follow-up are necessary to confirm our results.
UR  - https://gs.amegroups.org/article/view/18145