Quality of Life After Ethanol Ablation of Thyroid Nodules: A 1-Year Follow-Up Study

We aimed to evaluate thyroid-related and generic health-related quality of life (HRQoL), using the Thyroid-related Patient-Reported Outcome (ThyPRO)-39 and the Short Form Health Survey (SF)-36, before and 6 and 12 months after ethanol ablation (EA) for cystic thyroid nodules (CTNs), respectively.

We conducted a prospective cohort study on consecutive patients treated with EA for cytologically benign and symptomatic CTNs at our university hospital over a period of 4 years. Patients were included if they had the ability to complete self-administered questionnaires in Italian and they had 1-year follow-up.

We included 104 nodules (median volume, 15.6 [7.0-32.0] mL) from 104 patients. Six and 12 months after treatment, ThyPRO-39 scores had largely (ie, effect size >0.5) and significantly (P value adjusted <.001) improved across all scales compared with baseline. Six and 12 months after treatment, SF-36 scores had largely and significantly (P value adjusted <.001) improved across all scales. Nodule size, but no sex, age, or body mass index, positively and significantly influenced (worsening) the general quality of life item of ThyPRO-39 at baseline and at 6-month and 12-month follow-ups.

EA of symptomatic and benign CTNs is associated with a great improvement of HRQoL scores of ThyPRO-39 and SF-36 at 6-month and 12-month follow-ups. Both physical and mental domains of HRQoL are positively affected by EA of CTNs. Risk factors for remaining HRQoL deficits 1 year after EA need further exploration.