title: Benign thyroid nodules treatment using percutaneous laser ablation (PLA) and radiofrequency ablation (RFA).
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the reduction over time of benign thyroid nodules treated using percutaneous laser ablation (PLA) and radiofrequency ablation (RFA) by the same equipe.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ninety patients (age 55.6 ± 14.1 years) underwent ablation for benign thyroid nodule causing compression/aesthetic dissatisfaction from 2011. Fifty-nine (age 55.8 ± 14.1 years) underwent RFA and 31 (age 55.2 ± 14.2 years) PLA, ultrasound guided. Technical success, complications, duration of ablation and treatment, energy deployed, volumetric percentage reduction at 1, 6 and 12 months were derived. A regression model for longitudinal measurements was used with random intercept and random slope. Values are expressed as mean ± standard deviation or N (%).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Technical success was always obtained. No major complications occurred. Mean ablation time was 30.1 ± 13.8 vs. 13.9 ± 5.9 min (p < .0001) and mean energy deployment was 5422.3 ± 2484.5 J vs. 34 662.7 ± 15 812.3 J in PLA vs. RFA group. Mean volume reduced from 20.3 ± 16.4 ml to 13.17 ± 10.74 ml (42% ± 17% reduction) at 1st month, 8.7 ± 7.4 ml (60% ± 15% reduction) at 6th month and 7.1 ± 7.7 ml (70%% ± 16% reduction) at 12th month, in PLA group, and from 32.7 ± 19.5 ml to 17.2 ± 12.9 ml (51%±15% reduction) at 1st month, 12.8 ± 9.6 ml (64 ± 14% reduction) at 6th month and 9.9 ± 9.2 ml (74% ± 14% reduction) at 12th month in RFA group. No difference in time course of the relative volume reduction between the two techniques was found.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  RFA and PLA are similarly feasible, safe and effective in treating benign thyroid nodules when performed by the same equipe. RFA is faster than PLA but require significantly higher energy.
authors.affiliation: a Division of Interventional Oncology , European Institute of Oncology , Milan , Italy.|b Radiology Service, IRCCS Policlinico San Donato , Milan , Italy.
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mauri
authors.affiliation: c Interventional Oncology Service, Azienda Socio-Sanitario Territoriale (ASST) della Valle Olona , Varese , Italy.
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cova
authors.affiliation: d Postgraduate School in Radiodiagnostic Imaging, University of Milan , Milan , Italy.
authors.forename: Cristian Giuseppe
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Monaco
authors.affiliation: b Radiology Service, IRCCS Policlinico San Donato , Milan , Italy.|e Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health , University of Milan , Milan , Italy.
authors.forename: Luca Maria
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Sconfienza
authors.affiliation: e Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health , University of Milan , Milan , Italy.|f Endocrinology Unit, IRCCS Policlinico San Donato , Milano , Italy.
authors.forename: Sabrina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Corbetta
authors.affiliation: f Endocrinology Unit, IRCCS Policlinico San Donato , Milano , Italy.
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Benedini
authors.affiliation: g Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan, IRCCS Policlinico San Donato , Milan , Italy.
authors.forename: Federico
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ambrogi
authors.affiliation: g Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan, IRCCS Policlinico San Donato , Milan , Italy.
authors.forename: Valentina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Milani
authors.affiliation: h Department of Nuclear Medicine, Azienda Socio-Sanitario Territoriale (ASST) della Valle Olona , Varese , Italy.
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Baroli
authors.affiliation: i Unit of Interventional Radiology, Istituto Clinico Humanitas , Milano , Italy.
authors.forename: Tiziana
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ierace
authors.affiliation: i Unit of Interventional Radiology, Istituto Clinico Humanitas , Milano , Italy.|j Humanitas University, Istituto Clinico Humanitas , Milano , Italy.
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Solbiati
keywords: Thyroid nodule; laser; percutaneous ablation; radiofrequency; ultrasound