Radiofrequency Ablation Compared to Surgery for the Treatment of Benign Thyroid Nodules
Table 1
Patients’ characteristics at baseline before either RFA or surgery.
Characteristics
RFA ()
Surgery ()
value
Age (years)
58.3 ± 3.6
54.9 ± 3.4
n.s.
Sex (M/F)
12/25
17/57
n.s.
Nodule maximum (mm)
35.7 ± 2.5
38.8 ± 3.2
n.s.
Nodule volume (mL)
12.4 ± 2.5
12.8 ± 2.1
n.s.
Solid nodules (Y/N)
28/9
43/31
n.s.
Vascularity
2.1 ± 0.1
2.1 ± 0.2
n.s.
Macrocalcifications (Y/N)
8/29
19/55
n.s.
Patients with symptoms (Y/N)
13/24
43/31*
0.03
Hyperthyroidism (Y/N)
12/25
20/54
n.s.
TSH (microU/mL)
1.2 ± 0.2
1.3 ± 1.9
n.s.
Calcitonin (pg/mL)
1.8 ± 0.3
2.8 ± 0.5
n.s.
Anti-TPO and/or anti-TG Ab (Y/N)
3/34
7/67
n.s.
Results are expressed as mean ± SEM. Anti-TPO Ab, anti-thyroperoxidase antibodies; anti-TG Ab, anti-thyroglobulin antibodies; n.s., nonsignificant; RFA, radiofrequency ablation; TSH, thyroid-stimulating hormone; Y/N, yes/no. Solid nodules had less than 50% of cystic component.
