Comparison of the Effectiveness of Ethanol and Radiofrequency Ablation in the Treatment of Thyroid Nodules and Their Effects on Cosmetic Scoring.

Purpose: In this study, we aimed to retrospectively evaluate the volumes and cosmetic scores of mixed-type and spongy-type thyroid nodules treated with ethanol and radiofrequency (RF) ablation before and after treatment. In addition, the safety and efficacy of ethanol and RF ablation treatment methods were compared.

Methods: In the radiology department, mixed-type and spongy-type benign thyroid nodules undergoing ethanol and RF ablation between February 2015 and March 2020 were evaluated retrospectively. Consequently, 50 patients who received ethanol ablation therapy and 46 patients who received RF ablation therapy were included in the study. Nodule volumes obtained in pretreatment, third-month, and sixth-month control ultrasounds were noted. Similarly, the cosmetic scores obtained pretreatment and at the sixth-month follow-up were recorded for all patients.

Results: All of the patients had a single nodule, and 46 patients (47.9%) received RF ablation, and 50 patients (52.1%) received ethanol ablation. The mean volume pretreatment in nodules with RF ablation was 21.41 ml, at the third-month control was 5.68 ml, and at the sixth-month control, it was 4.12 ml ( < 0.05). In ethanol ablation therapy, the mean volume pretreatment was 20.52 ml, at the third-month control was 8.76 ml and at the sixth-month control was 6.01 ml ( < 0.05).

Conclusion: A minimally invasive approach is increasingly used in the treatment of benign thyroid nodules. Our study showed that RF ablation was somewhat more successful in reducing cosmetic scores in patients with biopsy-proven benign mixed-type and spongy-type thyroid nodules, and both techniques were similarly effective in volume reduction.