Ultrasound-guided radiofrequency ablation (RFA) of benign symptomatic thyroid nodules - initial UK experience.

Objective: To report on the use of RFA for the treatment of symptomatic benign and autonomously functioning thyroid nodules (AFTNs) in the first reported UK cohort.

Methods: Patients treated over a 19-month period were retrospectively reviewed. Nodules were assessed pre-treatment and at 1 and 6 months post-treatment. Nodule volume was calculated and cosmetic assessment and thyroid-related quality of life (QoL) scores were recorded at each time point. Thyroid function tests (TFTs) were recorded at all three time points for patients with ATFNs.

Results: 46 patients with 50 nodules were treated with no complications. The mean volume reduction 1-month post-treatment was 53 +- 14.9 % ( < 0.0001). Six month data was available for 31 nodules and showed a mean 67 +- 17.6% vol reduction ( < 0.0001). Five of the six patients with ATFNs were euthyroid at 1-month post-procedure. 6-month data was available on three of these patients, and all remained euthyroid. The thyroid-related QoL and cosmetic scores also improved. Data from 23 patients was available pre-treatment and at 6 months post-treatment and there was a significant ( < 0.0001) reduction in QoL score. Pre-treatment, 82 % of nodules were readily visible at rest, decreasing to 12.5 % 6 months after treatment ( < 0.0001).

Conclusions: Results align with published data suggesting that RFA is effective at reducing nodule volume and at treating ATFNs and leads to improvement in thyroid-related QoL and cosmetic scores.

Advances In Knowledge: This early UK experience demonstrates that day-case radiofrequency ablation can provide safe and effective treatment of benign symptomatic thyroid nodules.