PRELIMINARY RESULTS ON THE EFFICACY AND SAFETY OF RADIOFREQUENCY ABLATION FOR NON-FUNCTIONING BENIGN THYROID NODULES
Main Article Content
Abstract
Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of radiofrequency ablation in the treatment of benign thyroid nodules at Phuong Bac General Hospital.
Methods: A retrospective descriptive study was conducted on 20 patients using a pre-post treatment design. Data were collected at two time points: baseline (pre-treatment) and 12 months post-radiofrequency ablation. The study was carried out at Phuong Bac General Hospital from August 2023 to December 2024.
Results: The mean age of the study population was 49.7 years. At the 12-month follow-up post-radiofrequency ablation: the mean symptom score (scale 0-10) decreased from 3.53 at baseline to 1.02; the mean cosmetic score (scale 1-4) decreased from 3.1 to 1.5. The mean nodule volume decreased from 4.92 mL at baseline to 1.04 mL, corresponding to a mean volume reduction rate of 78.9%. All recorded complications were mild and self-limiting. Specifically, one patient experienced pain in the right jaw and right hemicranium, which resolved spontaneously post-procedure; one patient had a minor neck hematoma that required no intervention; and one patient experienced transient hoarseness during the procedure with immediate recovery. Additionally, three patients presented with subclinical hyperthyroidism one week post-radiofrequency ablation but returned to a euthyroid state after one month.
Conclusion: Radiofrequency ablation is a safe and effective minimally invasive procedure for treating benign thyroid nodules, providing significant volume reduction, clinical symptom relief, and improved cosmetic outcomes.
Article Details
Keywords
Radiofrequency ablation, thyroid tumor, benign thyroid nodules.
References
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