Stella Bernardi1,2, Chiara Dobrinja2, Anna Carere1, Fabiola Giudici3, Veronica Calabrò2, Fabrizio Zanconati1,2, Nicolò de Manzini1,2, Bruno Fabris1,2, Fulvio Stacul4. 1. a Department of Medical Sciences , University of Trieste, Cattinara Teaching Hospital , Trieste , Italy. 2. b Cattinara Teaching Hospital , ASUITS , Trieste , Italy. 3. c Department of Medical, Surgical and Health Sciences, Biostatistic Unit , Cattinara Teaching Hospital , Trieste , Italy. 4. d Radiology Department, Maggiore Teaching Hospital , ASUITS , Trieste , Italy.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Minimally invasive nonsurgical techniques are gaining ground as alternatives to surgery for the treatment of benign thyroid nodules. Here, we aimed at comparing patient satisfaction after radiofrequency ablation (RFA) to that after surgery. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, we recruited 126 patients treated with RFA and 84 treated with surgery for a single benign thyroid nodule. All patients were contacted by phone call and were asked the following questions: Are you satisfied with the symptom resolution?; Are you satisfied with the cosmetic results?; Are you satisfied overall with the procedure?; Are you taking any medication for your thyroid? Patients' general characteristics were collected from our database. RESULTS: In the surgery group, there was a higher percentage of patients fully satisfied with the resolution of nodule-related symptoms (p = .02). In the RFA group, there was a higher percentage of patients fully satisfied with the cosmetic results (p = .001). In terms of overall satisfaction, there were no differences between the groups (p = .26). Nevertheless, RFA led to differing results based on thyroid nodule function. In patients with nonfunctioning thyroid nodules, RFA was as effective as surgery in terms of satisfaction with symptom resolution, while it was not in patients with autonomously functioning thyroid nodules (AFTN). CONCLUSION: Our data on postoperative patient satisfaction support the notion that both RFA and surgery are valid therapeutic options for nonfunctioning thyroid nodules, while surgery should be still preferred for AFTN.
INTRODUCTION: Minimally invasive nonsurgical techniques are gaining ground as alternatives to surgery for the treatment of benign thyroid nodules. Here, we aimed at comparing patient satisfaction after radiofrequency ablation (RFA) to that after surgery. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, we recruited 126 patients treated with RFA and 84 treated with surgery for a single benign thyroid nodule. All patients were contacted by phone call and were asked the following questions: Are you satisfied with the symptom resolution?; Are you satisfied with the cosmetic results?; Are you satisfied overall with the procedure?; Are you taking any medication for your thyroid? Patients' general characteristics were collected from our database. RESULTS: In the surgery group, there was a higher percentage of patients fully satisfied with the resolution of nodule-related symptoms (p = .02). In the RFA group, there was a higher percentage of patients fully satisfied with the cosmetic results (p = .001). In terms of overall satisfaction, there were no differences between the groups (p = .26). Nevertheless, RFA led to differing results based on thyroid nodule function. In patients with nonfunctioning thyroid nodules, RFA was as effective as surgery in terms of satisfaction with symptom resolution, while it was not in patients with autonomously functioning thyroid nodules (AFTN). CONCLUSION: Our data on postoperative patient satisfaction support the notion that both RFA and surgery are valid therapeutic options for nonfunctioning thyroid nodules, while surgery should be still preferred for AFTN.
Authors: Giovanni Mauri; Franco Orsi; Serena Carriero; Paolo Della Vigna; Elvio De Fiori; Dario Monzani; Gabriella Pravettoni; Enrica Grosso; Marco F Manzoni; Mohssen Ansarin; Gioacchino Giugliano Journal: Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) Date: 2021-01-08 Impact factor: 5.555