Comparative Efficacy and Safety of Ultrasound-Guided Thermal Ablation for Benign Thyroid Nodules versus Low-Risk Follicular Neoplasms: A Single-Center Retrospective Study.
To compare the efficacy and safety of thermal ablation (TA) in the treatment of benign thyroid nodules (BTN) and follicular thyroid neoplasms (FTN).
This retrospective study included 1900 patients with BTN or FTN who underwent TA between January 2016 and August 2024. Patients were categorized according to the Bethesda category, and propensity score matching (PSM) was employed to control for confounding factors. Kaplan-Meier curves were used to analyze disease progression and tumor disappearance.
After PSM (1:1), 106 patients (median age 45 years [IQR 36-56]; 90 women) were included in the BTN group, and 106 patients (median age 46 years [IQR 34-58]; 87 women) were included in the FTN group. The median follow-up durations were 36 months (IQR, 12-60) for the BTN group and 35 months (IQR, 18-49) for the FTN group. Technical success rates were 100% in both groups. The median volume reduction rates (VRR) at 12 months were 86.7% (IQR: 62.5%-95.1%) in the BTN group and 91.5% (IQR: 64.3%-100%) in the FTN group. No significant differences were observed between the BTN and FTN groups in disease progression (4.7% vs. 5.7%, P > 0.99), progression-free survival rates (1-year:95.8% vs. 99.1%, P = 0.449; 3-year: 96.2% vs. 84.5%, P = 0.883; 5-year: 93.1% vs. 96.2%, P = 0.594; overall: 84.5% vs. 93.1%, P = 0.7), complications (2.8% vs. 3.8%, P > 0.99), or tumor disappearance (50.1% vs. 32.5%, P = 0.089). Transient hoarseness was the only major complication.
TA could achieve comparable safety and efficacy outcomes for both BTN and FTN.
This retrospective study included 1900 patients with BTN or FTN who underwent TA between January 2016 and August 2024. Patients were categorized according to the Bethesda category, and propensity score matching (PSM) was employed to control for confounding factors. Kaplan-Meier curves were used to analyze disease progression and tumor disappearance.
After PSM (1:1), 106 patients (median age 45 years [IQR 36-56]; 90 women) were included in the BTN group, and 106 patients (median age 46 years [IQR 34-58]; 87 women) were included in the FTN group. The median follow-up durations were 36 months (IQR, 12-60) for the BTN group and 35 months (IQR, 18-49) for the FTN group. Technical success rates were 100% in both groups. The median volume reduction rates (VRR) at 12 months were 86.7% (IQR: 62.5%-95.1%) in the BTN group and 91.5% (IQR: 64.3%-100%) in the FTN group. No significant differences were observed between the BTN and FTN groups in disease progression (4.7% vs. 5.7%, P > 0.99), progression-free survival rates (1-year:95.8% vs. 99.1%, P = 0.449; 3-year: 96.2% vs. 84.5%, P = 0.883; 5-year: 93.1% vs. 96.2%, P = 0.594; overall: 84.5% vs. 93.1%, P = 0.7), complications (2.8% vs. 3.8%, P > 0.99), or tumor disappearance (50.1% vs. 32.5%, P = 0.089). Transient hoarseness was the only major complication.
TA could achieve comparable safety and efficacy outcomes for both BTN and FTN.