Radiofrequency Ablation Compared to Surgery for the Treatment of Benign Thyroid Nodules
Objective. Benign thyroid nodules are a common occurrence whose only remedy, in case of symptoms, has always been surgery until the advent of new techniques, such as radiofrequency ablation (RFA). This study aimed at evaluating RFA efficacy, tolerability, and costs and comparing them to hemithyroide...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2014-01-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Endocrinology |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/934595 |
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| author | Stella Bernardi Chiara Dobrinja Bruno Fabris Gabriele Bazzocchi Nicoletta Sabato Veronica Ulcigrai Massimo Giacca Enrica Barro Nicolò De Manzini Fulvio Stacul |
| author_facet | Stella Bernardi Chiara Dobrinja Bruno Fabris Gabriele Bazzocchi Nicoletta Sabato Veronica Ulcigrai Massimo Giacca Enrica Barro Nicolò De Manzini Fulvio Stacul |
| author_sort | Stella Bernardi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Objective. Benign thyroid nodules are a common occurrence whose only remedy, in case of symptoms, has always been surgery until the advent of new techniques, such as radiofrequency ablation (RFA). This study aimed at evaluating RFA efficacy, tolerability, and costs and comparing them to hemithyroidectomy for the treatment of benign thyroid nodules. Design and Methods. 37 patients who underwent RFA were retrospectively compared to 74 patients surgically treated, either in a standard inpatient or in a short-stay surgical regimen. Efficacy, tolerability, and costs were compared. The contribution of final pathology was also taken into account. Results. RFA reduced nodular volume by 70% after 12 months and it was an effective method for treating nodule-related clinical problems, but it was not as effective as surgery for the treatment of hot nodules. RFA and surgery were both safe, although RFA had less complications and pain was rare. RFA costed €1,661.50, surgery costed €4,556.30, and short-stay surgery costed €4,139.40 per patient. RFA, however, did not allow for any pathologic analysis of the nodules, which, in 6 patients who had undergone surgery (8%), revealed that the nodules harboured malignant cells. Conclusions. RFA might transform our approach to benign thyroid nodules. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-2d280602c1fa4bb2a5808add6ec74eff |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1687-8337 1687-8345 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2014-01-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Endocrinology |
| spelling | doaj-art-2d280602c1fa4bb2a5808add6ec74eff2025-02-03T07:24:34ZengWileyInternational Journal of Endocrinology1687-83371687-83452014-01-01201410.1155/2014/934595934595Radiofrequency Ablation Compared to Surgery for the Treatment of Benign Thyroid NodulesStella Bernardi0Chiara Dobrinja1Bruno Fabris2Gabriele Bazzocchi3Nicoletta Sabato4Veronica Ulcigrai5Massimo Giacca6Enrica Barro7Nicolò De Manzini8Fulvio Stacul9UCO Medicina Clinica, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Trieste, Cattinara Hospital, Strada di Fiume, 34100 Trieste, ItalyUCO Chirurgia Generale, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Trieste, Cattinara Hospital, Strada di Fiume, 34100 Trieste, ItalyUCO Medicina Clinica, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Trieste, Cattinara Hospital, Strada di Fiume, 34100 Trieste, ItalySC Radiologia, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Trieste, Maggiore Hospital, Piazza dell’Ospitale, 34100 Trieste, ItalyUCO Medicina Clinica, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Trieste, Cattinara Hospital, Strada di Fiume, 34100 Trieste, ItalyUCO Radiologia, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Trieste, Cattinara Hospital, Strada di Fiume, 34100 Trieste, ItalyUCO Chirurgia Generale, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Trieste, Cattinara Hospital, Strada di Fiume, 34100 Trieste, ItalyUCO Medicina Clinica, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Trieste, Cattinara Hospital, Strada di Fiume, 34100 Trieste, ItalyUCO Chirurgia Generale, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Trieste, Cattinara Hospital, Strada di Fiume, 34100 Trieste, ItalySC Radiologia, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Trieste, Maggiore Hospital, Piazza dell’Ospitale, 34100 Trieste, ItalyObjective. Benign thyroid nodules are a common occurrence whose only remedy, in case of symptoms, has always been surgery until the advent of new techniques, such as radiofrequency ablation (RFA). This study aimed at evaluating RFA efficacy, tolerability, and costs and comparing them to hemithyroidectomy for the treatment of benign thyroid nodules. Design and Methods. 37 patients who underwent RFA were retrospectively compared to 74 patients surgically treated, either in a standard inpatient or in a short-stay surgical regimen. Efficacy, tolerability, and costs were compared. The contribution of final pathology was also taken into account. Results. RFA reduced nodular volume by 70% after 12 months and it was an effective method for treating nodule-related clinical problems, but it was not as effective as surgery for the treatment of hot nodules. RFA and surgery were both safe, although RFA had less complications and pain was rare. RFA costed €1,661.50, surgery costed €4,556.30, and short-stay surgery costed €4,139.40 per patient. RFA, however, did not allow for any pathologic analysis of the nodules, which, in 6 patients who had undergone surgery (8%), revealed that the nodules harboured malignant cells. Conclusions. RFA might transform our approach to benign thyroid nodules.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/934595 |
| spellingShingle | Stella Bernardi Chiara Dobrinja Bruno Fabris Gabriele Bazzocchi Nicoletta Sabato Veronica Ulcigrai Massimo Giacca Enrica Barro Nicolò De Manzini Fulvio Stacul Radiofrequency Ablation Compared to Surgery for the Treatment of Benign Thyroid Nodules International Journal of Endocrinology |
| title | Radiofrequency Ablation Compared to Surgery for the Treatment of Benign Thyroid Nodules |
| title_full | Radiofrequency Ablation Compared to Surgery for the Treatment of Benign Thyroid Nodules |
| title_fullStr | Radiofrequency Ablation Compared to Surgery for the Treatment of Benign Thyroid Nodules |
| title_full_unstemmed | Radiofrequency Ablation Compared to Surgery for the Treatment of Benign Thyroid Nodules |
| title_short | Radiofrequency Ablation Compared to Surgery for the Treatment of Benign Thyroid Nodules |
| title_sort | radiofrequency ablation compared to surgery for the treatment of benign thyroid nodules |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/934595 |
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