Thyroid nodule rupture after radiofrequency ablation: case report and literature review. 2024

Tatiana Ferraro, and Sameeha Sajid, and Steven P Hodak, and Chelsey K Baldwin
Division of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC, United States.

Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is an effective and safe modality for the treatment of thyroid nodules. Nodule rupture is a major complication of RFA. There is little known on the natural history of nodule rupture due to a lack of clinical experience and no consensus on its management. A comprehensive review of nodule rupture presentation, diagnosis, and management is needed. We report a case of nodule rupture and conduct a literature review. A total of 33 patients experiencing nodule rupture after RFA were included, and their clinical presentation, management, and outcomes were collected and analyzed. Nodule rupture presents with acute swelling (90.3%) and pain (77.4%) within 7 months of RFA procedure, most commonly due to disruption of the anterior thyroid capsule (87%), and can be diagnosed with ultrasonography. Most ruptures can be managed conservatively, exemplified by our reported case. There are no reported cases of long-term sequalae. Nodule rupture is the second most common major complication of RFA. Based on the available evidence, we propose a treatment algorithm for nodule rupture and recommendations for future data collection to address gaps in our understanding of rupture etiology and effective management.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000078703 Radiofrequency Ablation Removal of tissue using heat generated from electrodes delivering an alternating electrical current in the frequency of RADIO WAVES. Radio Frequency Ablation,Radio-Frequency Ablation,Ablation, Radio Frequency,Ablation, Radio-Frequency,Ablation, Radiofrequency
D016606 Thyroid Nodule A small circumscribed mass in the THYROID GLAND that can be of neoplastic growth or non-neoplastic abnormality. It lacks a well-defined capsule or glandular architecture. Thyroid nodules are often benign but can be malignant. The growth of nodules can lead to a multinodular goiter (GOITER, NODULAR). Nodule, Thyroid,Nodules, Thyroid,Thyroid Nodules
D016896 Treatment Outcome Evaluation undertaken to assess the results or consequences of management and procedures used in combating disease in order to determine the efficacy, effectiveness, safety, and practicability of these interventions in individual cases or series. Rehabilitation Outcome,Treatment Effectiveness,Clinical Effectiveness,Clinical Efficacy,Patient-Relevant Outcome,Treatment Efficacy,Effectiveness, Clinical,Effectiveness, Treatment,Efficacy, Clinical,Efficacy, Treatment,Outcome, Patient-Relevant,Outcome, Rehabilitation,Outcome, Treatment,Outcomes, Patient-Relevant,Patient Relevant Outcome,Patient-Relevant Outcomes

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