Short-term Outcomes of Benign Thyroid Nodule Ablation Using Radiofrequency: A Study at a Tier-1 Hospital in Vietnam

Thyroid nodules are a frequent clinical condition, traditionally managed with surgery or levothyroxine therapy. Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) has been introduced as a treatment option for thyroid nodules at the Thong Nhat Hospital (Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam). A retrospective longitudinal case series was conducted at the Thong Nhat Hospital from November 2022 to June 2024. Patients diagnosed with benign thyroid nodules based on ultrasound and fine-needle aspiration were treated using RFA. Follow-up ultrasounds were performed one month post-treatment to measure nodule volume reduction and identify any complications. Statistical analysis using univariate and multivariate linear regression explored factors influencing volume reduction. The study included 125 patients (113 females, 12 males) with an average age of 43 ± 12 years. Patients presented with 1 to 4 nodules each (mean: 1.7), and the average initial nodule volume was 9.87 ± 8.65 mL. The RFA procedure lasted an average of 15 ± 12 minutes. Mean nodule volume reductions were 49.6 ± 17.7% after one month and 65.5 ± 15.2% after three months. Minor self-limiting complications occurred in 2 cases (1.6%), with no major complications reported. Regression analysis revealed an inverse relationship between initial nodule solidity and volume reduction. These findings suggest that RFA is a safe and effective treatment for benign thyroid nodules, offering a viable alternative for broader clinical application. Key words: thyroid nodule, radiofrequency ablation, efficacy, safety.