RFA was effective in reducing the volume of BTN. The outcome was similar in centers with different experience in the moving-shot technique.

Context Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) of benign thyroid nodules has been gaining consensus. However, no solid information on its long-term efficacy is available. Objective To analyze the long-term results of single-session RFA. Design Retrospective longitudinal observational study. Setting Primary care center. Patients or Other Participants Adult outpatients who underwent a single-session RFA and posttreatment follow-up of least 3 years. Intervention Ultrasound-guided RFA was performed after local anesthesia by “moving-shot” technique. RFA was performed with a median power of 55W and a median time of 14 minutes with an internally cooled 18-gauge electrode with an active 10-mm tip. Main Outcome Measures Objective (trend of nodule volume) and subjective (compressive and cosmetic concerns) response to RFA were evaluated. Continuous variables were analyzed by the Wilcoxon and ANOVA test and their correlations by using the Spearman test. Categorical variables were compared by Pearson χ2 test. Results Two hundred and fifteen patients were included. An early significant reduction of nodule volume was found at 1 year, lasting up to 5 years. A 67% nodule shrinkage was observed at the end of the observation period. The best response was recorded in nodules below 10 mL (79% reduction early and 81% at 5 years). Patients’ symptoms were significantly reduced. Conclusions This study, by demonstrating a durable shrinkage of benign thyroid nodules treated by RFA with an improvement of subjective symptoms, establishes the reliability of RFA as alternative to surgery in the management of thyroid nodules, thus representing a remarkable novelty for clinical practice.

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Background The purpose of this study was to confirm the generalisation of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) in the treatment of benign thyroid nodules (BTN) and to look for a correlation between final shrinkage and some ultrasound (US) findings in a large Italian population data set. Methods This prospective study included 337 patients with solid cold BTN from six Italian institutions. Nodule volume, US pattern, thyroid function, symptom/cosmetic scores and complications were evaluated before treatment and at 6 and 12 months. The primary outcome was to find a correlation between basal volume and US pattern of the nodules and final shrinkage. The secondary outcome was to confirm the efficacy and safety of RFA in a large data set. Results The median basal volume was 20.7 mL, and this significantly decreased after RFA at 6 months (7.3 mL (−63.5%), P < 0.001) and at 12 months (6 mL (−70%), P vs 6 months = 0.009). A significant correlation was found for US structure (a spongiform pattern showing a 76% reduction vs 67 and 66% of mix and solid patterns respectively, P < 0.01) as well as for vascularity (intense peripheral and intranodal patterns showing 71 vs 68 and 67% of weak peripheral and intranodal and peripheral patterns respectively, P < 0.03), but not for macrocalcifications. A slight inverse correlation was found between nodule basal volume and shrinkage (Spearman: −0.23). Mean symptoms/cosmetic scores were significantly reduced. No major complications were encountered. Conclusions This multicentre study validated the efficacy and safety of RFA for treating BTN and showed a clear correlation between final shrinkage and some common US findings.

Background Recent studies suggested a potential association between both overt and subclinical hypothyroidism and migraine. Aims of this study were to estimate the comorbidity of migraine in patients with subclinical hypothyroidism and to evaluate associated clinical characteristics. Methods Using a case-control strategy, 151 consecutive subclinical hypothyroidism patients (mean age 48.36 ± 15.86 years) and 150 controls (mean age 50.86 ± 9.19 years) were recruited. In all subjects, migraine characteristics were collected through a direct interview. Clinical and biochemical parameters (thyroid-stimulating hormone, free triiodothyronine, free thyroxine, and anti-thyroid antibodies) were compared between subclinical hypothyroidism patients in comorbidity with migraine and subclinical hypothyroidism patients without migraine. Results The prevalence of lifetime migraine was significantly higher in subclinical hypothyroidism patients in comparison with controls (46% vs. 13%, p < 0.001; OR 5.80; 95% CI = 3.35-10.34). Both migraine without and with aura were significantly higher in subclinical hypothyroidism patients than controls ( p < 0.001 and p = 0.010, respectively). Thyroid hormones and concentrations of antibodies did not differ between subclinical hypothyroidism patients with and without migraine. Interestingly, a comorbidity for autoimmune diseases was observed in subclinical hypothyroidism patients with migraine in respect to those without migraine ( p = 0.005). Conclusions Our data suggest that migraine is more frequent in patients with subclinical hypothyroidism in respect to controls. Further studies are needed in order to confirm this association.

This study supports the National Cancer Institute consensus showing a different risk of malignancy for "follicular lesions of undetermined significance” compared with "follicular neoplasms" and "Hurthle cells neoplasms," which are more suspect for malignancy. This subclassification could improve clinical management of thyroid nodules, helping to better select patients for surgery or follow up.

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Biochemical activity of PHPT seems to be independent of sex, but clinical presentation is different, mostly due to menopausal state. However, surgical referral was indicated equally in men and women.