Patient satisfaction after thyroid RFA versus surgery for benign thyroid nodules: a telephone survey

Stella Bernardi,Chiara Dobrinja,Anna Carere,Fabiola Giudici,Veronica Calabrò,Fabrizio Zanconati,Nicolò De Manzini,Bruno Fabris,Fulvio Stacul

doi:10.1080/02656736.2018.1487590

Stella Bernardi, Chiara Dobrinja + Show 7 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1080/02656736.2018.1487590

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Abstract

Introduction: Minimally invasive nonsurgical techniques are gaining ground as alternatives to surgery for the treatment of benign thyroid nodules. Here, we aimed at comparing patient satisfaction after radiofrequency ablation (RFA) to that after surgery.Methods: In this cross-sectional study, we recruited 126 patients treated with RFA and 84 treated with surgery for a single benign thyroid nodule. All patients were contacted by phone call and were asked the following questions: Are you satisfied with the symptom resolution?; Are you satisfied with the cosmetic results?; Are you satisfied overall with the procedure?; Are you taking any medication for your thyroid? Patients’ general characteristics were collected from our database.Results: In the surgery group, there was a higher percentage of patients fully satisfied with the resolution of nodule-related symptoms (p = .02). In the RFA group, there was a higher percentage of patients fully satisfied with the cosmetic results (p = .001). In terms of overall satisfaction, there were no differences between the groups (p = .26). Nevertheless, RFA led to differing results based on thyroid nodule function. In patients with nonfunctioning thyroid nodules, RFA was as effective as surgery in terms of satisfaction with symptom resolution, while it was not in patients with autonomously functioning thyroid nodules (AFTN).Conclusion: Our data on postoperative patient satisfaction support the notion that both RFA and surgery are valid therapeutic options for nonfunctioning thyroid nodules, while surgery should be still preferred for AFTN.

Highlights

Invasive nonsurgical techniques are gaining ground as alternatives to surgery for the treatment of benign thyroid nodules
It may be perceived that radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is somehow superior to LA in reducing thyroid nodule volume [9], Mauri et al have demonstrated that RFA and LA are feasible, safe and effective in treating benign thyroid nodules when performed by the same team [10]
While we are entering the era of interventional thyroidology [5,12,27], surgery remains the first-line therapy for most patients with symptomatic benign thyroid nodules [13]

Summary

Introduction

Invasive nonsurgical techniques are gaining ground as alternatives to surgery for the treatment of benign thyroid nodules. In patients with nonfunctioning thyroid nodules, RFA was as effective as surgery in terms of satisfaction with symptom resolution, while it was not in patients with autonomously functioning thyroid nodules (AFTN). Invasive nonsurgical techniques are gaining ground as an alternative to surgery for the treatment of benign thyroid nodules [1,2] These techniques include percutaneous sclerotherapy, which is usually performed with ethanol, as well as thermal ablation techniques. Thermal ablation procedures, which make the target nodule shrink via heat generation [5], have been mostly used to treat solid thyroid nodules These techniques include laser, radiofrequency and microwave ablation, as well as high-intensity focused ultrasound [3,6]. The operators’ experience seems to be a more important indicator of treatment outcome than the ablation technique in US-guided thermal ablations [11]

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Conclusion