Overview
Benign thyroid nodules (BTNs) are non-cancerous growths within the thyroid gland. While often asymptomatic, they can cause compressive symptoms or cosmetic concerns, necessitating treatment 1.Diagnosis
Diagnosis typically involves physical examination, thyroid function tests, and ultrasound 1.
Further evaluation may include fine-needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy for suspicious nodules 1.Management
Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and microwave ablation (MWA) are effective and safe treatment modalities for BTNs 1.
Both RFA and MWA demonstrate significant volume reduction rates (VRR) at 3 and 6 months 1.
RFA shows a superior VRR compared to MWA at 12 months 1.
Symptomatic and cosmetic improvements are observed with both RFA and MWA at 6 and 12 months, with equivalent symptom improvement between the two modalities 1.
Major and minor complications do not significantly differ between RFA and MWA 1.Key Recommendations
Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and microwave ablation (MWA) are effective and safe treatment options for benign thyroid nodules 1. (Evidence: Strong)
RFA demonstrates a superior volume reduction rate compared to MWA at 12 months for benign thyroid nodules 1. (Evidence: Moderate)
Both RFA and MWA lead to significant improvements in symptoms and cosmetic appearance for benign thyroid nodules 1. (Evidence: Moderate)References
1 Guo DM, Chen Z, Zhai YX, Su HH. Comparison of radiofrequency ablation and microwave ablation for benign thyroid nodules: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Clinical endocrinology 2021. link