Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40214733›Full record

SynthesisEuropean radiology2025

The long-term effects of thermal ablation for benign thyroid nodules: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Xinshu Zhao, Jianan Xue, Weiying Yu, Rong Dong, Shuqi Liu, Peiwen Wang, Jingyao Wang, Feng Guo, Deng-Ke Teng

Abstract readMeta-AnalysisSystematic Review
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in European radiology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–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

3 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Article
  3. Article
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

9 authors.

Xinshu Zhao *Department of Ultrasound, China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China.
Jianan Xue *Department of Ultrasound, China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China.
Weiying YuDepartment of Ultrasound, China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China.
Rong DongSchool of Physical Education and Sports, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China.
Shuqi LiuDepartment of Ultrasound, China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China.
Peiwen WangDepartment of Ultrasound, China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China.
Jingyao WangDepartment of Ultrasound, China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China.
Feng GuoDepartment of Ultrasound, China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China. guofengcs@jlu.edu.cn.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2167-4728
Deng-Ke TengDepartment of Ultrasound, China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China. tengdk@jlu.edu.cn.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4266-8941

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundUltrasound-guided thermal ablation has become an option for treating benign thyroid nodules. To evaluate the long-term safety and efficacy of thermal ablation for benign thyroid nodules (BTNs), cases involving 3 years of follow-up were studied via a systematic review and meta-analysis.

methodsStudies published up to January 2024 were searched in the MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases; these studies included 3 years of follow-up data on patients with BTNs who underwent thermal ablation therapy. The reduction in the mean nodule volume, volume reduction rate (VRR), rate of regrowth during follow-up, compression symptoms, postoperative cosmetic effects, and ablation complications during follow-up were analyzed over 3 years. In a subgroup analysis, laser ablation (LA), radiofrequency ablation (RFA), and microwave ablation (MWA) were compared.

resultsAfter 3 years of follow-up, the volumes of BTNs decreased significantly after thermal ablation (p < 0.00001). The VRR was 71.59%. The regrowth rate was 7.41%. The major complication rate was 1.96%. The symptom scores and cosmetic scores significantly decreased (p < 0.00001). According to our subgroup analysis, the combined VRR was 53.27% in the LA group, 79.51% in the RFA group and 89.68% in the MWA group. The regrowth rate in the MWA-treated patients was lower (1.96%) than that in the other groups. Although the rate of the major complication was slightly greater (1.96%), there were no statistically significant differences compared with those in the LA and RFA groups.

conclusionLong-term follow-up analysis indicated that thermal ablation is a safe and effective method for treating benign thyroid nodules. In addition, compared with RFA and LA, MWA may be more effective at treating benign thyroid nodules. KEY POINTS: Question What is the long-term outcome of thermal ablation in the treatment of benign thyroid nodules? Findings Thermal ablation is safe and effective for benign thyroid nodules. Clinical relevance Laser ablation, radiofrequency ablation, and microwave ablation showed no difference in safety, but microwave ablation may be more effective in treating benign thyroid nodules.

Indexed as

Ablation TechniquesRadiofrequency AblationThyroid NoduleHumansLaser TherapyTreatment OutcomeAblation techniques, Thyroid noduleMeta-analysis

Identifiers

PMID40214733

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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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.