Searchable abstracts of presentations at key conferences in endocrinology
Endocrine Abstracts (2015) 37 EP960 | DOI: 10.1530/endoabs.37.EP960

1General Surgery, Cattinara Teaching Hospital, Trieste, Italy; 2Department of Medical, Surgical, and Health Sciences, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy; 3Radiology Unit, Maggiore Hospital, Trieste, Italy.


Background: Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is an effective technique for the treatment of symptomatic benign thyroid nodules. It is not known to what extent RFA may affect thyroid surgery and/or histological diagnosis.

Materials and methods: patients were treated with RFA and then followed for 2 years. RFA was performed on 64 symptomatic Thy2 nodules and on six symptomatic Thy3 nodules, without atypical cells nor BRAF or NRAS mutations, in surgically high-risk individuals or patients unwilling to undergo surgery. Volume reduction was evaluated at 1, 3, 6, 12, and 24 months after the procedure. Two Thy3 nodules regrew after the procedure, and the patients accepted to undergo a total thyroidectomy. Here we present how RFA has affected their operation or the final pathology of the surgically removed nodules.

Results and conclusions: RFA is effective for the treatment of Thy2 nodules. RFA should not be used for the treatment of Thy3 nodules, as it only delays surgery in case of malignancy. One session of RFA does not affect subsequent thyroid surgery and/or histological diagnosis.

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