Efficacy of 7 versus 10 mm Active Tips in Thyroid Radiofrequency Ablation for Benign Nodules.
[BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE] Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is an effective treatment modality for benign thyroid nodules, but several factors can influence the extent of volume reduction.
- 연구 설계 cohort study
APA
Morkos M, Nasrallah Z (2026). Efficacy of 7 versus 10 mm Active Tips in Thyroid Radiofrequency Ablation for Benign Nodules.. AACE endocrinology and diabetes, 13(2), 160-164. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aed.2025.12.013
MLA
Morkos M, et al.. "Efficacy of 7 versus 10 mm Active Tips in Thyroid Radiofrequency Ablation for Benign Nodules.." AACE endocrinology and diabetes, vol. 13, no. 2, 2026, pp. 160-164.
PMID
41938312
Abstract
[BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE] Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is an effective treatment modality for benign thyroid nodules, but several factors can influence the extent of volume reduction. This study compares the effectiveness of 7- versus 10-mm active tips in terms of volume reduction rate (VRR), defined as the percentage decrease in nodule volume after RFA over 12 months.
[METHODS] This retrospective longitudinal cohort study was conducted at an academic U.S. institution from December 2021 to November 2024, and included patients who underwent RFA performed by a single endocrinologist. Patients with benign thyroid nodules were included; those with thyroid cancer or parathyroid adenoma were excluded.
[RESULTS] We identified 35 patients; females were 91.4%, with a mean age of 50.6 ± 17.5 years. The active tips used were 7 mm ( = 22) and 10 mm ( = 13). The initial nodule volumes were stratified in 3 groups: <10 mL (45.5% and 46.2%), 10 to 20 mL (27.3% and 23.1%), and ≥20 mL (27.3% and 30.8%), respectively. Volume measurements were conducted at baseline and at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months post-RFA.Comparing VRR with 7- versus 10-mm active tips across the whole cohort showed significant differences at 1 month (47.1 ± 24.7% vs 27.3 ± 28.8%, = 0.044), 3 months (74.1 ± 20.1% vs 52.0 ± 20.0%, = 0.035), 6 months (74.6 ± 19.0% vs 54.6 ± 13.6%, = 0.016), and 12 months (85.9 ± 22.4% vs 59.3 ± 20.0%, = 0.031), respectively. Ablation duration was 51.9 [24.2-71.2] and 40.0 [18.2-72.3] seconds, respectively, = 0.436. Delivered energy was 1.1 [0.5-1.5] and 1.7 [0.8-4.0] KJ, respectively, = 0.350.
[CONCLUSION] In thyroid RFA, the 7-mm active tip can achieve better VRRs than the 10-mm tip.
[METHODS] This retrospective longitudinal cohort study was conducted at an academic U.S. institution from December 2021 to November 2024, and included patients who underwent RFA performed by a single endocrinologist. Patients with benign thyroid nodules were included; those with thyroid cancer or parathyroid adenoma were excluded.
[RESULTS] We identified 35 patients; females were 91.4%, with a mean age of 50.6 ± 17.5 years. The active tips used were 7 mm ( = 22) and 10 mm ( = 13). The initial nodule volumes were stratified in 3 groups: <10 mL (45.5% and 46.2%), 10 to 20 mL (27.3% and 23.1%), and ≥20 mL (27.3% and 30.8%), respectively. Volume measurements were conducted at baseline and at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months post-RFA.Comparing VRR with 7- versus 10-mm active tips across the whole cohort showed significant differences at 1 month (47.1 ± 24.7% vs 27.3 ± 28.8%, = 0.044), 3 months (74.1 ± 20.1% vs 52.0 ± 20.0%, = 0.035), 6 months (74.6 ± 19.0% vs 54.6 ± 13.6%, = 0.016), and 12 months (85.9 ± 22.4% vs 59.3 ± 20.0%, = 0.031), respectively. Ablation duration was 51.9 [24.2-71.2] and 40.0 [18.2-72.3] seconds, respectively, = 0.436. Delivered energy was 1.1 [0.5-1.5] and 1.7 [0.8-4.0] KJ, respectively, = 0.350.
[CONCLUSION] In thyroid RFA, the 7-mm active tip can achieve better VRRs than the 10-mm tip.