ArticleEuropean radiology2022
Image-guided thermal ablation in autonomously functioning thyroid nodules. A retrospective multicenter three-year follow-up study from the Italian Minimally Invasive Treatment of the Thyroid (MITT) Group.
Article in European radiology, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 15 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
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Who cites it
15 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- Radioiodine versus radiofrequency ablation to treat autonomously functioning thyroid nodules: a systematic review and comparative meta-analysis.European journal of nuclear medicine and molecular imaging · 2024Pooled it
- 2023 European Thyroid Association Clinical Practice Guidelines for thyroid nodule management.European thyroid journal · 2023Guideline
- Morphologic, Immunohistochemical, and Molecular Features of Laser-Ablated Thyroid Nodules: Diagnostic Pitfalls and Differential Diagnosis with Thyroid Carcinoma.International journal of molecular sciences · 2026Article
- Mid-to Long-term Outcomes After Single Radiofrequency Ablation of Nontoxic and Toxic Thyroid Nodules.The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism · 2026Article
- Ultrasound-guided radiofrequency ablation for recurrent contralateral tumors that developed after initial surgery for papillary thyroid carcinoma.Frontiers in endocrinology · 2026Article
- The clinical utility of thermal ablation procedures in thyroid nodules: Latin American Thyroid Society (LATS) surgical affairs committee expert opinion. Part 2.Archives of endocrinology and metabolism · 2025Review
- Evolving patient preferences from surgery to thermal ablation in solitary thyroid nodule treatment.Scientific reports · 2025Article
- Complications after thermal ablation for thyroid nodules across countries.Frontiers in endocrinology · 2025Article
- Reappraising the role of thyroid scintigraphy in the era of TIRADS: A clinically-oriented viewpoint.Endocrine · 2024Review
- Laser Ablation for Benign and Malignant Thyroid Nodules - A Mini-Literature Review.Endocrine, metabolic & immune disorders drug targets · 2024Review
- General Principles for the Safe Performance, Training, and Adoption of Ablation Techniques for Benign Thyroid Nodules: An American Thyroid Association Statement.Thyroid : official journal of the American Thyroid Association · 2023Article
- Radiofrequency ablation for autonomously functioning nodules as treatment for hyperthyroidism: subgroup analysis of toxic adenoma and multinodular goitre and predictors for treatment success.European journal of nuclear medicine and molecular imaging · 2023Article
- Image-Guided Ablation of Thyroid Tissue: A Potential Therapeutic Option for Selected Cases of Relapsing Hyperthyroidism?Cardiovascular and interventional radiology · 2023Article
- Clinical indications for image-guided interventional procedures in the musculoskeletal system: a Delphi-based consensus paper from the European Society of Musculoskeletal Radiology (ESSR)-part VII, nerves of the lower limb.European radiology · 2022Article
- Clinical indications for image-guided interventional procedures in the musculoskeletal system: a Delphi-based consensus paper from the European Society of Musculoskeletal Radiology (ESSR)-part VII, nerves of the lower limb.European radiology · 2022Article
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Authors and funding
23 authors.
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Abstract
objectivesTo report the results of a multicenter retrospective evaluation of the clinical outcomes of thermal ablation (TA) in a large series of autonomously functioning thyroid nodules (AFTN) with a follow-up protracted up to 3 years.
methodsPatients treated with single TA for an AFTN in Italy were included. Changes in nodule volume, TSH values, and ongoing anti-thyroid therapy were assessed at the 2-, 6-, 12-, 24-, and 36-month follow-up controls. Complications and need of any additional therapy after TA were also registered.
resultsA total of 361 patients (244 females, 117 males, median age 58 years, IQR 46-70 years) were included. Nodule volume was significantly reduced at all time points (p < 0.001) (median volume reduction 58% at 6-month and 60% at 12-month). Serum TSH values increased significantly at all time points. After TA, anti-thyroid therapy was withdrawn in 32.5% of patients at 2 months, in 38.9% at 6 months, and in 41.3% at 12 months. A significant difference in the rate of patients who withdrawn medical therapy at 12 months was registered between small (< 10 mL) (74%), medium (49%), or large (> 30 mL) nodules (19%). A single major complication occurred (0.25%). Additional treatments were needed in 34/361 (9.4%) of cases including 4 (1.1%) surgical treatment.
conclusionsImage-guided thermal ablation offers a further safe and effective therapeutic option in patients with AFTN. Clinical outcomes are significantly more favorable in small than in large size AFTN. KEY POINTS: • Thermal ablations (TA) can be safely and effectively used in patients with autonomously functioning thyroid nodules (AFTN). • TA results in a clinically significant nodule volume reduction that is paralleled by TSH level normalization and anti-thyroid drug therapy discontinuation (after TA anti-thyroid therapy was withdrawn in 41.3% at 12 months). • Clinical outcomes after TA are more favorable in small nodules, and when a large amount of thyroid nodule tissue is ablated.
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