Radiofrequency Ablation for Thyroid Nodules (RATED Study)—Analysis of a Learning Curve and Predictors of Success
Authors' conclusion
In RFA for thyroid nodules, a stable treatment efficacy is achieved after 20 treatments, with a median VRR of 70.8%. Baseline nodule volume, energy delivered, and prolonged follow-up 6 months after treatment may not be clinically relevant to predict treatment success.
Study context
- Population
- Patients who underwent radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for symptomatic thyroid nodules with available ultrasound (US) follow-up, 3 Dutch referral hospitals356 nodules
- Participants
- 337 patients
- Outcome
- US-based volume reduction ratio (VRR)
- Follow-up
- 12 months
Methodological detailsobservational, multicentre (3 Dutch referral hospitals)
- Observational
- Multicentre (3 Dutch referral hospitals)
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
VRR
Median volume reduction ratio (VRR) at 12 months (299 nodules after excluding first 20 treatments per center)
70.8%
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Secondary outcomes
VRR at 3 and 6 months
- Median VRR at 3 months
- 57.1%
- Median VRR at 6 months
- 65.6%
Learning curve · 12 months
- VRR at 12 months increased for the first 20 treatments per center and stabilized thereafter (plateau after learning curve)
Predictors of VRR at 12 months
- Baseline nodule volume negatively correlated with VRR, but VRR was high for every volume category
- Energy delivered per volume did not correlate with VRR
Original publication
Radiofrequency Ablation for Thyroid Nodules (RATED Study)—Analysis of a Learning Curve and Predictors of Success. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. Published 29 January 2025. doi:10.
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