Bilateral nodule radiofrequency ablation in a single setting: First reported case series

Area of Science:

• Endocrinology
• Minimally-invasive surgery

Background:

• Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is a safe, minimally-invasive method for managing thyroid nodules.
• Current RFA protocols typically address single thyroid nodules in one session.
• Treating bilateral thyroid nodules often requires multiple RFA sessions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the safety and efficacy of treating bilateral thyroid nodules in a single Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA) session.
• To compare the outcomes of single-setting bilateral RFA with those of separate-setting RFA for thyroid nodules.

Main Methods:

• A prospective series of patients with bilateral thyroid nodules undergoing single-setting RFA.
• A control cohort of patients with bilateral thyroid nodules treated with RFA in separate sessions.
• Comparison of nodule volume reduction rate (VRR) at 6 months and complication rates between the two cohorts.

Main Results:

• The single-setting bilateral RFA group achieved a mean VRR of 64.0% ± 18.97% at 6 months.
• The separate-setting RFA control group showed a mean VRR of 63.79% ± 18.86% at 6 months.
• No complications were reported in either the single-setting or separate-setting RFA cohorts.

Conclusions:

• Single-setting RFA is a safe and effective approach for managing bilateral thyroid nodules in selected patients.
• This novel approach offers comparable efficacy to multi-session RFA.
• Further research with larger cohorts is recommended to confirm these preliminary findings.