ArticleEndocrine2026
Radiofrequency versus microwave ablation for non-functioning benign thyroid nodules: a single-institution comparative cohort study.
Article in Endocrine, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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
0 citing papers in PubMed.
No citing paper in PubMed yet.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
6 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
purposeThermal ablation (TA) has emerged as an alternative to surgery in selected patients with benign thyroid nodules, achieving substantial nodule volume reduction with improved cosmesis and lower risk of post-procedural hypothyroidism than thyroidectomy. However, comparative data from North American practice remain limited. We compared the efficacy and safety of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and microwave ablation (MWA) for non-functioning benign thyroid nodules.
methodsIn this single-institution comparative cohort, 224 patients with 291 nodules underwent RFA and 47 patients with 60 nodules underwent MWA for non-functioning benign thyroid nodules (2019-2025). Nodule volume, volume reduction ratio (VRR), symptoms, cosmesis, and complications were compared between the modalities over a 12-month follow-up period.
resultsBaseline volumes were larger in the MWA cohort (median 29.0 vs. 16.6 mL, p = 0.004). Median VRR reached 77.8% (RFA) and 70.8% (MWA) by 12 months, with no significant between-group difference at any timepoint. After adjustment for baseline volume, estimated mean volume did not differ significantly between modalities. Final nodule volume tracked closely with baseline volume across volume groups. Median symptom and cosmesis scores improved for each group post-ablation. Complication rates were low and similar between groups, the most common being periprocedural pain (15.6% RFA, 12.8% MWA).
conclusionRFA and MWA achieved comparable volume reduction, symptom improvement, and complication rates for non-functioning benign thyroid nodules.
Indexed as
Identifiers
42859321What 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.