Surgical and Pathological Changes after Radiofrequency Ablation of Thyroid Nodules.
Background. Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) has been recently advocated as an effective technique for the treatment of symptomatic benign thyroid nodules. It is not known to what extent it may affect any subsequent thyroid surgery and/or histological diagnosis. Materials and Methods. RFA was performed on 64 symptomatic Thy2 nodules (benign nodules) and 6 symptomatic Thy3 nodules (follicular lesions/follicular neoplasms). Two Thy3 nodules regrew after the procedure, and these patients accepted to undergo a total thyroidectomy. Here we present how RFA has affected the operation and the final pathological features of the surgically removed nodules. Results and Conclusions. RFA is effective for the treatment of Thy2 nodules, but it should not be recommended as first-line therapy for the treatment of Thy3 nodules (irrespective of their mutational status), as it delays surgery in case of malignancy. Moreover, it is unknown whether RFA might promote residual tumor progression or neoplastic progression of Thy3 lesions. Nevertheless, here we show for the first time that one session of RFA does not affect subsequent thyroid surgery and/or histological diagnosis.
UCO Chirurgia Generale, Cattinara Teaching Hospital, Strada di Fiume, 34100 Trieste, Italy.
Chiara
C
Dobrinja
SS Endocrinologia (UCO Medicina Clinica), Cattinara Teaching Hospital, Strada di Fiume, 34100 Trieste, Italy ; Department of Medical, Surgical, and Health Sciences, University of Trieste, Cattinara Teaching Hospital, Strada di Fiume, 34100 Trieste, Italy.
Stella
S
Bernardi
SS Endocrinologia (UCO Medicina Clinica), Cattinara Teaching Hospital, Strada di Fiume, 34100 Trieste, Italy ; Department of Medical, Surgical, and Health Sciences, University of Trieste, Cattinara Teaching Hospital, Strada di Fiume, 34100 Trieste, Italy.
Bruno
B
Fabris
UCO Chirurgia Generale, Cattinara Teaching Hospital, Strada di Fiume, 34100 Trieste, Italy.
Rita
R
Eramo
UCO Chirurgia Generale, Cattinara Teaching Hospital, Strada di Fiume, 34100 Trieste, Italy ; Department of Medical, Surgical, and Health Sciences, University of Trieste, Cattinara Teaching Hospital, Strada di Fiume, 34100 Trieste, Italy.
Petra
P
Makovac
SC Radiologia, Maggiore Hospital, Piazza dell'Ospitale, 34100 Trieste, Italy.
Gabriele
G
Bazzocchi
SS Endocrinologia (III Medica), Maggiore Hospital, Piazza dell'Ospitale, 34100 Trieste, Italy.
Lanfranco
L
Piscopello
SS Endocrinologia (UCO Medicina Clinica), Cattinara Teaching Hospital, Strada di Fiume, 34100 Trieste, Italy ; Department of Medical, Surgical, and Health Sciences, University of Trieste, Cattinara Teaching Hospital, Strada di Fiume, 34100 Trieste, Italy.
Enrica
E
Barro
UCO Chirurgia Generale, Cattinara Teaching Hospital, Strada di Fiume, 34100 Trieste, Italy ; Department of Medical, Surgical, and Health Sciences, University of Trieste, Cattinara Teaching Hospital, Strada di Fiume, 34100 Trieste, Italy.
Nicolò
N
de Manzini
Department of Medical, Surgical, and Health Sciences, University of Trieste, Cattinara Teaching Hospital, Strada di Fiume, 34100 Trieste, Italy ; UCO Anatomia e Istologia Patologica, Cattinara Teaching Hospital, Strada di Fiume, 34100 Trieste, Italy.
Deborah
D
Bonazza
Department of Medical, Surgical, and Health Sciences, University of Trieste, Cattinara Teaching Hospital, Strada di Fiume, 34100 Trieste, Italy ; UCO Anatomia e Istologia Patologica, Cattinara Teaching Hospital, Strada di Fiume, 34100 Trieste, Italy.
Maurizio
M
Pinamonti
Department of Medical, Surgical, and Health Sciences, University of Trieste, Cattinara Teaching Hospital, Strada di Fiume, 34100 Trieste, Italy ; UCO Anatomia e Istologia Patologica, Cattinara Teaching Hospital, Strada di Fiume, 34100 Trieste, Italy.
Fabrizio
F
Zanconati
SC Radiologia, Maggiore Hospital, Piazza dell'Ospitale, 34100 Trieste, Italy.
Fulvio
F
Stacul