Patient satisfaction after thyroid RFA versus surgery for benign thyroid nodules: a telephone survey

<b>Introduction:</b> 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. <b>Methods</b>: 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. <b>Results</b>: In the surgery group, there was a higher percentage of patients fully satisfied with the resolution of nodule-related symptoms (<i>p</i> = .02). In the RFA group, there was a higher percentage of patients fully satisfied with the cosmetic results (<i>p</i> = .001). In terms of overall satisfaction, there were no differences between the groups (<i>p</i> = .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). <b>Conclusion</b>: 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.

引言：微创非手术技术作为良性甲状腺结节手术治疗的替代方案，正逐渐得到临床认可。本研究旨在比较射频消融术（radiofrequency ablation, RFA）与手术治疗后的患者满意度。方法：本项横断面研究共纳入126例接受射频消融术治疗及84例接受手术治疗的单发良性甲状腺结节患者。所有患者均通过电话联系，并被询问以下问题：您对结节相关症状的缓解是否满意？您对治疗后的美容效果是否满意？您对本次治疗的整体效果是否满意？您是否正在服用甲状腺相关药物？患者的一般基线资料从本院数据库中获取。结果：手术组中，对结节相关症状缓解完全满意的患者占比更高（p = .02）。射频消融组中，对美容效果完全满意的患者占比更高（p = .001）。就整体满意度而言，两组间无显著差异（p = .26）。不过，射频消融术的疗效因甲状腺结节功能类型而异：在无功能甲状腺结节患者中，射频消融术在症状缓解满意度方面与手术效果相当；而在自主功能性甲状腺结节（autonomously functioning thyroid nodules, AFTN）患者中则未呈现此优势。结论：本研究的术后患者满意度数据支持以下观点：射频消融术与手术均为无功能甲状腺结节的有效治疗选择；而对于自主功能性甲状腺结节，手术仍应作为首选治疗方案。