title: Efficacy and safety of a single radiofrequency ablation of solid benign non-functioning thyroid nodules.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of our study is to evaluate the clinical outcomes and safety of radiofrequency thermal ablation (RFA) for benign thyroid nodules (BTNs) over a 1-year follow-up.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a monocentric retrospective study. Forty-eight patients with solid, non-functioning BTNs were treated by RFA using a 17G internally cooled electrode. We categorized thyroid nodules as small (≤ 12 mL), medium (12 to 30 mL), or large (over 30 mL). BTNs volume reduction, thyroid function, cosmetic and compressive score changes and side effect evaluation at 6 and 12 months were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  BTN volume decreased significantly from baseline to 6 (mean percentage decrease of BTN volume was 66.8 ± 13.6%, p < 0.001). At 12 months, the mean percentage reduction of BTN volume compared to six months was 13.7 ± 17.1% (p < 0.001). At 6-month, symptom score had improved significantly (p < 0.001) while it does not change significantly between 6 and 12 months. In particular, symptom score improved significantly in the medium (p < 0.001) and large (p < 0.01) subgroups. Cosmetic score improved significantly between baseline and 6 months (p < 0.001) and between 6 and 12 months (p < 0.01). In all the subgroups, cosmetic score improved significantly between baseline and 6 months, while between 6 and 12 months it improved significantly only in the large group (p < 0.05). RFA was well tolerated. Only one patient experienced permanent right paramedian vocal cord palsy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A single RFA treatment was effective in reducing BTNs volume, in particular small and medium nodules. Cosmetic score improved in all treated BTNs while symptom score only got better in the medium and large BTNs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine "S. M. Goretti" Hospital, Latina, Italy.
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cesareo
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, University Campus Bio-Medico, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Palermo
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, "S. M. Goretti" Hospital, Latina, Italy.
authors.forename: Valerio
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Pasqualini
authors.affiliation: Compensatory authority (INAIL), Monte Porzio Catone, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Carla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Simeoni
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine "S. M. Goretti" Hospital, Latina, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Casini
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, "S. M. Goretti" Hospital, Latina, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pelle
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, University Campus Bio-Medico, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Manfrini
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine "S. M. Goretti" Hospital, Latina, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Campagna
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, "S. M. Goretti" Hospital, Latina, Italy.
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cianni
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008163:Luminescent Measurements; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013960:Thyroid Function Tests; D016606:Thyroid Nodule / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D013972:Thyrotropin / Q000097:blood; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D013972:Thyrotropin