ArticleEuropean radiology2026
Transarterial embolization outperforms radiofrequency ablation for thyroid goiters exceeding 100 mL: a study on efficacy and safety.
Article in European radiology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.
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.
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.
Who cites it
2 citing papers in PubMed.
- Bleomycin TACE for symptomatic giant nodular goiter.European radiology · 2026Article
- Complete pathologic necrosis of a thyroid neoplasm following pressure-enabled thyroid artery embolization.JCEM case reports · 2026Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
8 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
objectivesThis study aimed to compare the efficacy and safety of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and transarterial embolization (TAE) in managing large benign thyroid nodules (BTNs), particularly those exceeding 100 mL, where established guidelines are limited. MATERIALS AND
methodsThis retrospective multicenter study, conducted from January 2018 to May 2022, included 70 patients with a total of 76 large BTNs. Of these, 53 underwent RFA and 17 underwent TAE. Nodules were categorized by initial volume (< 50 mL, 50-100 mL, > 100 mL) and diameter (< 6 cm, 6-9 cm, > 9 cm). Treatment efficacy was evaluated using the volume reduction rate (VRR) at 6 months. Complications, as well as improvements in symptoms and cosmetic scores, were documented and analyzed.
resultsAt 6 months, TAE demonstrated a significantly higher mean VRR than RFA (p = 0.007), especially for nodules larger than 100 mL (TAE: 63.34% vs. RFA: 49.71%; p = 0.035). The complication rate in the TAE group (5.26%) was lower than that in the RFA group (14.03%), where transient hoarseness and hematoma were common complications. Both treatments resulted in significant improvements in symptom and cosmetic scores (p < 0.001), with TAE providing greater improvements in larger nodules.
conclusionTAE is more effective and has fewer complications than RFA for the treatment of large BTNs exceeding 100 mL. These findings suggest that TAE may serve as a minimally invasive alternative to surgery for patients with large thyroid nodules. KEY POINTS: Question What are the optimal minimally invasive treatment strategies for large benign thyroid nodules considering efficacy and safety? Findings Transarterial embolization (TAE) achieved a higher volume reduction rate with fewer complications compared to radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for large thyroid nodules exceeding 100 mL. Clinical relevance TAE offers a safer and more effective minimally invasive alternative to RFA for large thyroid nodules, improving patient outcomes with fewer risks.
Indexed as
Identifiers
40658200What OpenQuestion holds
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.