Bilateral nodule radiofrequency ablation in a single setting: First reported case series.

BACKGROUND: Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is a minimally-invasive ablative technique with an impressive safety profile used to manage thyroid nodules. Current reports with RFA describe the treatment of a single nodule in a single-setting. We describe the first series of bilateral nodule RFA in a single-setting.

METHODS: RFA was performed on patients with bilateral thyroid nodules in a single-setting. A cohort of randomly selected patients undergoing RFA for bilateral thyroid nodules in a separate setting was reported as a control cohort.

RESULTS: A total of 12 patients were included in our series, included 6 patients in the single-setting ablation cohort. For patients with bilateral nodules treated by RFA in a separate setting, the mean volume reduction rate (VRR) at 6 months of 63.79% ± 18.86%. There were no reports of complications in the separate setting cohort. For patients with bilateral nodules treated by RFA in a single-setting, the mean VRR at 6 months was 64.% ± 18.97%. There were no reports of complications in the single-setting cohort.

CONCLUSIONS: Our work describes a novel use of RFA, providing preliminary insight into its use for appropriately selected patients with bilateral thyroid nodules. Future studies with larger sample sizes are warranted to corroborate and expand on our findings.