ArticleEuropean radiology2018
Thermal ablation of thyroid nodules: are radiofrequency ablation, microwave ablation and high intensity focused ultrasound equally safe and effective methods?
Article in European radiology, 2018. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 44 papers, 6 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
44 citing papers in PubMed, 6 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 102 citations in OpenAlex.
- Comparative efficacy and safety of radiofrequency ablation and microwave ablation in benign thyroid nodule treatment: a systematic review and meta-analysis.European radiology · 2025Pooled it
- Efficacy of HIFU for the treatment of benign thyroid nodules: a systematic review and meta-analysis.European radiology · 2024Pooled it
- Comparative Efficacy and Safety of Radiofrequency Ablation and Microwave Ablation in the Treatment of Benign Thyroid Nodules: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.Korean journal of radiology · 2024Pooled it
- Pooled it
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- Evaluation of perithyroidal adhesion after thermal ablation of thyroid nodules: a self-controlled study.Journal of medical ultrasonics (2001) · 2026Article
- Morphologic, Immunohistochemical, and Molecular Features of Laser-Ablated Thyroid Nodules: Diagnostic Pitfalls and Differential Diagnosis with Thyroid Carcinoma.International journal of molecular sciences · 2026Article
- Comparing the therapeutic efficacy of radiofrequency vs. Microwave ablation for non-functioning benign thyroid nodules.Journal of endocrinological investigation · 2026Article
- Machine learning-based ultrasound radiomics for prediction of 6-month local thermal ablation response in benign thyroid nodules: a multicenter study.Frontiers in endocrinology · 2026Article
- Predicting the efficacy of microwave ablation of benign thyroid nodules from ultrasound images using deep convolutional neural networks.BMC medical informatics and decision making · 2025Article
- Analysis and prediction of ablation zone absorption in papillary thyroid microcarcinoma undergoing microwave ablation.Endocrine · 2025Article
- Thyroid Nodules: Emerging Trends in Detection and Visualization based on Citespace.Endocrine, metabolic & immune disorders drug targets · 2024Article
- Development and validation of a nomogram model for predicting residue of partially cystic thyroid nodules after ultrasound-guided ethanol and thermal ablation.Frontiers in endocrinology · 2023Article
- Article
- The influence of thyroid hormone medication on intra-therapeutic half-life ofScientific reports · 2022Article
- Total thyroidectomy versus hemithyroidectomy with intraoperative radiofrequency ablation for unilateral thyroid cancer with contralateral nodules: A propensity score matching study.Journal of otolaryngology - head & neck surgery = Le Journal d'oto-rhino-laryngologie et de chirurgie cervico-faciale · 2022Article
- Effects of Regional and General Anesthesia on the Therapeutic Outcome of Benign Thyroid Nodules Treated with High Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU).World journal of surgery · 2022Article
- Pathology confirmation of the efficacy and safety of microwave ablation in papillary thyroid carcinoma.Frontiers in endocrinology · 2022Article
- Safety and Efficacy of Radiofrequency Ablation of Thyroid Nodules-Expanding Treatment Options in the United States.Journal of the Endocrine Society · 2021Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
7 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
objectivesThis study compares volume reduction of benign thyroid nodules three months after Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA), Microwave Ablation (MWA) or High Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) to evaluate which of these methods is the most effective and safe alternative to thyroidectomy or radioiodine therapy. MATERIAL AND
methodsNinety-four patients (39 male, 55 female) with a total of 118 benign, symptomatic thyroid nodules were divided into three subgroups. HIFU was applied to 14 patients with small nodules. The other 80 patients were divided up into two groups of 40 patients each for RFA and MWA in the assumption that both methods are comparable effective. The pre-ablative and post-ablative volume was measured by ultrasound.
resultsRFA showed a significant volume reduction of nodules of 50 % (p<0.05), MWA of 44 % (p<0.05) and HIFU of 48 % (p<0.05) three months after ablation. None of the examined ablation techniques caused serious or permanent complications.
conclusionRFA, MWA and HIFU showed comparable results considering volume reduction. All methods are safe and effective treatments of benign thyroid nodules. KEY POINTS: • Thermal Ablation can be used to treat benign thyroid nodules • Thermal Ablation can be an alternative to thyroidectomy or radioiodine therapy • Radiofrequency Ablation, Microwave Ablation, High Intensity Focused Ultrasound are safe and effective.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.