Evidence map›Paper›PMID 29770303›Full record

ArticleGland surgery2018

Cooled tip radiofrequency ablation of benign thyroid nodules: preliminary experience with two different devices.

Francesco Morelli, Anna Maria Ierardi, Giovanni Pompili, Andrea Sacrini, Pierpaolo Biondetti, Salvatore Alessio Angileri, Giovanni Montesano, Mario Petrillo, Roberta Giacchero, Gianlorenzo Dionigi and 1 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Gland surgery, 2018. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
6citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

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.

2 · The registry

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.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

6 citing papers in PubMed.

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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

11 authors.

Francesco MorelliDepartment of Radiology, San Paolo Hospital, Milan, Italy.
Anna Maria IerardiDepartment of Radiology, San Paolo Hospital, Milan, Italy.
Giovanni PompiliDepartment of Radiology, San Paolo Hospital, Milan, Italy.
Andrea SacriniDepartment of Radiology, San Paolo Hospital, Milan, Italy.
Pierpaolo BiondettiDepartment of Radiology, San Paolo Hospital, Milan, Italy.
Salvatore Alessio AngileriDepartment of Radiology, San Paolo Hospital, Milan, Italy.
Giovanni MontesanoDepartment of Ophthalmology, San Paolo Hospital, Milan, Italy.
Mario PetrilloDepartment of Radiology, San Paolo Hospital, Milan, Italy.
Roberta GiaccheroDepartment of Pediatrics, San Paolo Hospital, Milan, Italy.
Gianlorenzo DionigiDepartment of Human Pathology in Adulthood and Childhood "G. Barresi", University Hospital G. Martino, University of Messina, Messina, Italy.
Gianpaolo CarrafielloDepartment of Radiology, San Paolo Hospital, Milan, Italy.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThyroid nodules are very common in general population. Even if benign, they may require a treatment in case of symptoms or cosmetic concerns. In the last years, minimally invasive treatments alternative to surgery have been developed, in particular ultrasound (US) guided radiofrequency ablation (RFA).

methodsTwenty-four patients (9 males; 15 females; mean age 57.9 years) were treated and divided in two groups (A and B) according to the RFA needle used (18 gauge needle, AMICA; 17 gauge needle, COVIDIEN). Nodules and patients characteristics, together with procedural data were registered pre-treatment and at 1-month follow-up. US visibility of the needle, volume of the nodules, symptoms and cosmetic concerns, complications were registered.

resultsVisibility of the needle was not significantly different in the two groups (P=0.0787). At 1 month the mean volume of the nodules dropped from 37.1 to 25 mL in group A and from 23.2 to 15.4 mL in group B; shrinkage rate (36.9% and 39.5%, respectively) was not significantly different (P=0.3137). Symptoms decreased from 3.1 to 1.4 in group A and from 4 to 1.6 in group B: no significant differences in reductions were observed (P=0.3305). Cosmetic score decreased from 3.7 to 3.4 in group A and from 3.9 to 3.6 in group B: no significant differences in reductions were observed (P=0.96). Total complication rate (18.2% in group A

conclusionsThe two systems used in our study resulted equivalent in terms of US needle visibility, efficacy, symptom/cosmetic relief, safety. More patients and a longer follow-up are necessary to confirm our results.

Indexed as

Ablation techniquesradiofrequency ablation (RFA)thyroid nodule

Identifiers

PMID29770303
PMCPMC5938272

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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.