The Effect of Laser Thermal Ablation on Quality of Life: Improvements in Patients with Solid-Cystic Thyroid Nodules.

Background: Evidence of the efficacy of laser thermal ablation (LTA) in benign thyroid nodules is abundant. However, little is known about the effect on quality of life (QoL) of this treatment. Methods: Prospective cohort study investigating the effect of LTA before, three, and six months after LTA on QoL using the thyroid-specific patient-reported outcome (ThyPRO) measure. Patients receiving LTA (laser group [LG]) was compared with a well-characterized control group (CG) from the Danish civil registry. Results: The LG comprised 54 patients, with no age or sex differences compared with the CG (n = 739). Sixty-nine percent of the patients had a recurrent cystic thyroid nodule, 6% had a solid nodule, while the remaining 25% were of mixed character. The median nodule volume was 6.8 mL (interquartile range [IQR]: 4.0-11.1) before LTA, and 1.8 mL (IQR: 0.6-4.1) at 6 months post-LTA (p < 0.001), corresponding to a median reduction of 78%. All cystic fluid (median: 6 mL; IQR: 2.0-9.0) was aspirated before LTA. Median treatment time was 400 seconds (IQR: 300-600), applying a median energy of 823 J (IQR: 600-1200). At baseline and according to the ThyPRO scales, the LG differed significantly from the CG by having more goiter symptoms, hyperthyroid symptoms, tiredness, and cognitive complaints (p < 0.05 for all variables), but only the difference in the goiter symptom scale was of a clinically important magnitude. At three months, the LG experienced a large improvement in goiter symptoms (effect size [ES] = 1.05), a moderate improvement in cosmetic complaints (ES = 0.50), and a moderate improvement in the overall QoL (ES = 0.64). Only the improvements in the goiter symptom and the cosmetic complaint scales were clinically important. Six months after LTA, the anxiety scale showed further improvement of moderate size (ES = 0.52). At 6 months, the results above were maintained, and 79% of patients experienced a large and clinically important improvement in the goiter symptom scale and no clinically important differences were found between the LG and the CG. Conclusions: In this unblinded, prospective observational study, measures of disease-specific QoL were significantly improved compared with preprocedure levels, in patients with solid-cystic nodules.

The Impact of Post-Thyroidectomy Neck Stretching Exercises on Neck Discomfort, Pressure Symptoms, Voice and Quality of Life: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: Following surgery for benign nodular goiter, patients may experience neck and shoulder pain, neck pressure and tightness, choking sensation, altered voice function, and dysphagia leading to decreased short-term quality of life (QoL). This single-blinded randomized controlled trial investigated the effect of post-thyroidectomy rehabilitative neck stretching and movement exercises on these variables including QoL. METHODS: Patients undergoing thyroid lobectomy or total thyroidectomy were randomized to perform neck stretching and movement exercises three times daily in four weeks following surgery (intervention group) or conventional follow-up without exercises (control group). Outcome measures were scores in the following questionnaires: Disease-specific Thyroid-Related Patient-Reported Outcome (ThyPRO-39) involving symptoms of "sense of fullness in the neck," "pressure in the throat," and "discomfort swallowing" combined in the multi-item Goiter Symptom Scale, the Voice Handicap-Index-10 (VHI-10), neck and shoulder pain measurement by a numeric rating scale (NRS), and General measure of health (EQ-5D-5L). All scores were assessed prior to surgery and one, two, four weeks, and three months after surgery. Data were analyzed using a linear mixed model. RESULTS: Eighty-nine patients were included and randomized to the control (n = 45) or the intervention group (n = 44). At three months after surgery, both the control and the intervention group experienced large to moderate improvements in the Goiter symptom and Hyperthyroid symptom scale of the ThyPRO questionnaire (p < 0.004). No significant between-group differences were found in any of the other applied scales. CONCLUSIONS: This study confirms that patients experience profound improvements in QoL after surgery for benign nodular goiter. However, early post-thyroidectomy neck stretching and movement exercises did not result in further QoL improvement, reduction in pain or less impacted subjective voice function for patients primarily undergoing thyroid lobectomy. Trial Registration Number NCT04645056 ( https://clinicaltrials.gov ).

Clinical evaluation of antibiotic regimens in patients with surgically verified parapharyngeal abscess: a prospective observational study.

PURPOSE: We aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of different antibiotic regimens for the treatment of parapharyngeal abscess (PPA) and characterize patients, who suffered potentially preventable complications (defined as death, abscess recurrence, spread of infection, or altered antibiotic treatment because of insufficient progress). METHODS: Sixty adult patients with surgically verified PPA were prospectively enrolled at five Danish Ear-nose-throat departments. RESULTS: Surgical treatment included internal incision (100%), external incision (13%), and tonsillectomy (88%). Patients were treated with penicillin G ± metronidazole (n = 39), cefuroxime ± metronidazole (n = 16), or other antibiotics (n = 5). Compared to penicillin-treated patients, cefuroxime-treated patients were hospitalized for longer (4.5 vs 3.0 days, p = 0.007), were more frequently admitted to intensive care (56 vs 15%, p = 0.006), underwent external incision more frequently (31 vs 5%, p = 0.018), and suffered more complications (50 vs 18%, p = 0.022), including re-operation because of abscess recurrence (44 vs 3%, p < 0.001). Nine patients suffered potentially preventable complications. These patients displayed significantly higher C-reactive protein levels, received antibiotics prior to admission more frequently, underwent external incision more commonly, and were admitted to intensive care more frequently compared to other patients. CONCLUSION: The majority of patients with PPA were effectively managed by abscess incision, tonsillectomy, and penicillin G ± metronidazole. Cefuroxime-treated patients were more severely ill at time of admission and had worse outcome compared to penicillin-treated patients. We recommend penicillin G + metronidazole as standard treatment for patients with PPA, but in cases with more risk factors for potentially preventable complications, we recommend aggressive surgical and broadened antibiotic therapy, e.g. piperacillin-tazobactam.

Microbiology of parapharyngeal abscesses in adults: in search of the significant pathogens.

We aimed to describe the microbiology of parapharyngeal abscess (PPA) and point out the likely pathogens using the following principles to suggest pathogenic significance: (1) frequent recovery, (2) abundant growth, (3) growth in relative abundance to other microorganisms, (4) percentage of the isolates recovered in both absolute and relative abundance, (5) more frequent recovery in PPA pus compared with tonsillar surface and tissue. Comprehensive bacterial cultures were performed on specimens obtained from adult patients (n = 60) with surgically verified PPA, who were prospectively enrolled at five Danish ear-nose-throat departments. The prevalent isolates (in PPA pus) were unspecified anaerobes (73%), non-hemolytic streptococci (67%), Streptococcus anginosus group (SAG) (40%), Corynebacterium spp. (25%), Neisseria spp. (23%), Fusobacterium spp. (22%), Fusobacterium necrophorum (17%), Prevotella spp. (12%), and Streptococcus pyogenes (10%). The bacteria most frequently isolated in heavy (maximum) growth were unspecified anaerobes (60%), SAG (40%), F. necrophorum (23%), and Prevotella spp. (17%). The predominant microorganisms (those found in highest relative abundance) were unspecified anaerobes (53%), SAG (28%), non-hemolytic streptococci (25%), F. necrophorum (15%), S. pyogenes (10%), and Prevotella spp. (10%). Four potential pathogens were found in both heavy growth and highest relative abundance in at least 50% of cases: F. necrophorum, Prevotella spp., SAG, and S. pyogenes. SAG, Prevotella spp., F. necrophorum, S. pyogenes, and Bacteroides spp. were recovered with the same or higher frequency from PPA pus compared with tonsillar tissue and surface. Our findings suggest that SAG, F. necrophorum, Prevotella, and S. pyogenes are significant pathogens in PPA development.

Interrater variation of vascular classifications used in enhanced laryngeal contact endoscopy.

PURPOSE: Combined use of contact endoscopy (CE) and Narrow Band Imaging (NBI, Olympus®) is suggested for the visualization of specific vascular changes indicative of glottic neoplasia. We investigated the interrater reliability and agreement in 3 recognized classification systems of vascular changes applied to images from CE + NBI in patients suspected for glottic neoplasia. METHODS: Six experienced head and neck surgeons familiar with NBI rated 120 images obtained by CE + NBI by 3 classification systems of vascular changes as suggested by Ni et al. (N-C), Puxeddu et al. (P-C), and the European Laryngological Society (ELS-C). Three raters were experienced in CE, and three raters had only limited experience with CE. Crude agreement and Fleiss' kappa with 95% confidence interval were estimated for all 6 raters, and for the 2 levels of expertise for each original classification system and for dichotomized versions of the N-C and the P-C based on suggested neoplastic potential. RESULTS: The interrater crude agreement and the corresponding kappa values for the ELS-C were good and significantly higher than those for the N-C and P-C for all raters, irrespective of the level of experience with CE (p < 0.0001). There were no significant differences between the N-C and the P-C (p = 0.16). Kappa was considerably improved for both the N-C and the P-C to a level not different from the ELS-C (p = 0.21-0.71) when their 5 original categories were pooled into dichotomized classifications. CONCLUSION: Difficulties in reliably classifying vascular changes in CE + NBI are evident. Two-tier classification systems are the most reliable.

Upfront PET/CT affects management decisions in patients with recurrent head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

PURPOSE: To compare multidisciplinary team conference (MDTC) decisions regarding treatment intent based on either chest X-ray + MRI of the head and neck (CXR/MRI) or 18F-FDG-PET/CT (PET/CT) in patients with recurrent head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). METHODS: Prospective blinded cohort study based on paired data. Consecutive patients with suspected recurrent HNSCC were invited to participate. All included patients underwent CXR/MRI and PET/CT before diagnostic biopsy. An ordinary MDTC using all available imaging data was conducted as per standard practice. After at least three months (to eliminate recall bias in the team), the first project MDTC, based on either CXR/MRI or PET/CT, was conducted, and the tumor board made conclusions regarding treatment. After an additional three months, a second project MDTC was conducted using the complementary imaging strategy. The separate treatment strategies were compared using McNemar's test. RESULTS: A total of 110 patients (90 males and 20 females, median age 66 years, range 40-87) were included. The initial primary tumor originated from the pharynx in 56 (51%) patients, oral cavity in 17 (15%) patients, and larynx in 37 (34%) patients. Based on CXR/MRI, 87 patients (79%) were recommended curative treatment and 23 (21%) palliative treatment. Based on PET/CT, the MDTC decided that 52 (47%) patients were suitable for curative treatment and 58 (53%) for palliative treatment. The absolute difference of 32% was statistically significant (95% CI: 22-42%, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: PET/CT affected MDTC decisions in patients with recurrent HNSCC towards less curative and more palliative treatment.

The Impact of Post-thyroidectomy Paresis on Quality of Life in Patients with Nodular Thyroid Disease.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the impact of postoperative paresis on disease-specific quality of life (DSQoL) after thyroidectomy in patients with benign nodular thyroid disease. STUDY DESIGN: Observational study. SETTING: University hospital. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Patients were evaluated before and 3 weeks and 6 months after surgery in an individual prospective cohort study using videolaryngostroboscopy (VLS), voice range profile, voice handicap index (VHI), multidimensional voice program, maximum phonation time (MPT), and auditory perceptual evaluation. Changes in DSQoL were assessed by the Thyroid-specific Patient-Reported Outcome measure. Cohen's effect size was used to evaluate changes. RESULTS: Sixty-two patients were included, 55 of whom completed all examinations. Three weeks after surgery, a blinded VLS examination showed signs of paresis of either the recurrent laryngeal nerve or the external branch of the superior laryngeal nerve (RLN/EBSLN) in 13 patients (24%). A paresis corresponded to a 12 ± 28 point increase in VHI (P = .002) and was associated with a significant 4.3 ± 7.5 semitone decrease in the maximum fundamental frequency (P < .001) and a 5.3 ± 8.2 dB reduction in maximum intensity. Further, it was associated with a 4.5 ± 11.2 second reduction in MPT (P = .001) and an increase of 0.40 ± 1.19 in grade, 0.42 ± 1.41 in roughness, and 0.36 ± 1.11 in breathiness. Signs of postoperative RLN/EBSLN paresis correlated with an 11.0-point (P = .02) poorer improvement in goiter symptoms at both 3 weeks and 6 months after surgery. CONCLUSION: Signs of RLN/EBSLN paresis after thyroidectomy were associated with less pronounced improvement in goiter symptoms in patients with thyroid nodular disease. However, thyroidectomy was associated with an overall improved DSQoL by 6 months after surgery.

Long-term outcome following laser therapy of benign cystic-solid thyroid nodules.

OBJECTIVE: Laser therapy (LT) is considered a safe and effective procedure for inducing thyroid nodule necrosis, fibrosis and shrinkage. Little is known about long-term efficacy of LT in benign complex thyroid nodules, which we report here. DESIGN AND METHODS: One hundred and ten euthyroid outpatients (28 men and 82 women; median age 48 years (range 17-82)) with a recurrent cytologically benign cystic (≥2 mL cyst volume) thyroid nodule causing local discomfort were assigned to LT. LT was performed after complete cyst aspiration and under continuous ultrasound (US) guidance. Nineteen patients (17 within 6 months) had surgery after LT. The median follow-up for the remaining 91 patients was 45 months (range: 12-134). RESULTS: The overall median nodule volume in the 110 patients decreased from 9.0 mL (range: 2.0-158.0) to 1.2 mL (range: 0.0-85.0) (P < 0.001) at the final evaluation, corresponding to a median reduction of 85% (range: -49 to 100%). Remission of the cystic part (volume ≤1 mL) was obtained in 82 of 110 (75%) patients after LT. The median cyst volume decreased from 6.3 mL (range: 2.0-158.0) to 0.0 mL (range: 0.0-85.0) (P < 000.1), corresponding to a median reduction of 100% (range: -49 to 100%). These results correlated with a significant decrease in pressure as well as cosmetic complaints. Side effects were restricted to mild local pain. CONCLUSION: US-guided aspiration and subsequent LT of benign recurrent cystic thyroid nodules results in a satisfactory long-term clinical response in the majority of patients. LT constitutes a clinically relevant alternative to surgery in such patients.

Risk of Malignancy in FDG-Avid Thyroid Incidentalomas on PET/CT: A Prospective Study.

BACKGROUND: Due to a substantial risk of malignancy, patients with focal FDG-avid thyroid incidentalomas (FFTIs) on PET/CT are in most of Denmark referred to Head and Neck Cancer (HNC) fast track programs. The aim of this study was to determine the risk of malignancy in FFTI managed in a HNC fast track program. METHODS: A prospective cohort study including all patients with FFTI referred to the HNC fast track program, Odense University Hospital between September 1, 2016 and August 31, 2017. Ultrasonography (US) and fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) were intended to be done in all patients. Nodules with cytology of Bethesda 1, 3, 4, 5, or 6 were planned for surgical removal. RESULTS: A total of 104 patients were included. All patients had US and 101 patients (97%) had FNAB. Forty-two patients had benign cytology classified as Bethesda 2. The remaining 62 patients underwent surgery except from 11 patients, mainly due to comorbidity. The overall risk of malignancy for patients with FFTI referred to our HNC fast track program was calculated to be 24% (23/95) based on patients with unequivocal cytology and/or histology. The only statistically significant US characteristic to predict malignancy was the appearance of irregular margins with a sensitivity of 47% and specificity of 96%. CONCLUSION: The risk of malignancy of FFTIs handled in our HNC fast track program is 24%.

The Impact of Esophageal Compression on Goiter Symptoms before and after Thyroid Surgery.

INTRODUCTION: Benign nodular goiter may be associated with swallowing difficulties, but insight into the associated pathophysiology is limited. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of surgery on the degree of esophageal compression, and its correlation to swallowing difficulties. METHODS: Esophageal compression and deviation were evaluated blindly on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the neck, prior to and 6 months after thyroid surgery for symptomatic benign goiter. Goiter symptoms and swallowing difficulties were measured by the Goiter Symptom Scale of the Thyroid-Specific Patient-Reported Outcome (ThyPRO) questionnaire. Cohen's d was used for evaluating effect sizes (ES). RESULTS: Sixty-four patients completed the study. Before surgery, median goiter volume was 57 (range 14-642) mL. The smallest cross-sectional area of the esophagus (SCAE) increased from a median of 95 (47-147) to 137 (72-286) mm2 (ES = 1.31, p < 0.001). Median esophagus width increased from 15 (range 10-21) to 17 (range 12-24) mm (ES = 0.94, p < 0.001) after surgery, while no statistically significant change was observed for the sagittal dimension (anterior-to-posterior), thus reflecting an increasingly ellipsoid esophageal shape. Median esophageal deviation decreased moderately after surgery from 4 (0-23) to 3 (0-10) mm (ES = 0.54, p = 0.005). The goiter symptom score improved considerably from (mean ± SD) 40 ± 21 to 10 ± 10 points (ES = 1.5, p < 0.001) after surgery, and the improvements were associated with improvements in SCAE (p = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with goiter, thyroidectomy leads to substantial improvements in esophageal anatomy, as assessed by MRI, and this correlates with improved swallowing symptoms. This information is valuable in qualifying the dialogue with goiter patients, before deciding on the mode of therapy. Clinicaltrials.gov (NCT03072654).

[Syncope due to giant goitre].

We present a case report of a 70-year-old male patient with a giant goitre. The patient experienced recurrent episodes of syncope/fainting, when he turned his head towards to the right, and he experienced discomfort when lying on his back. A CT scan showed compression of the right carotid artery and carotid sinus from a thyroid mass. After a mass of 1,473 g of thyroid tissue had been removed by a right thyroid lobectomy, the patient experienced no further episodes of syncope. It is well known, that giant goitres can bring a wide range of symptoms including compression of arteries, veins, nerves and related structures on the neck and in the thorax.

PET/CT and prediction of thyroid cancer in patients with follicular neoplasm or atypia.

PURPOSE: To examine whether addition of 18F-fluoro-deoxy-glucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (FDG-PET/CT) to fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) would improve prediction of thyroid cancer in patients with FNAB-derived follicular neoplasm or atypia, classified according to focal, multifocal, diffuse, or no FDG uptake. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Consecutive patients with FNAB-derived follicular neoplasm or atypia planned for surgery from September 2013 to March 2016 were prospectively included and considered for analysis. All patients underwent preoperative PET/CT and a clinical head and neck examination, including ultrasound of the neck and the thyroid gland. Patients with obvious signs of thyroid malignancy were excluded from the study. Histology of the surgical specimen was used as reference standard for statistical analysis. RESULTS: Of the 108 patients included (85 women, median age 53.4 years), 31 (29%) had a thyroid nodule that was histologically verified as malignant. Sensitivity and specificity for PET/CT in detection of thyroid cancer was 79 and 32%, respectively, including a derived positive predictive value (PPV) of 31%, and a negative predictive value (NPV) of 79%. Univariate and multivariate analyses showed no significant increase in the risk of thyroid cancer among patients with focal or multifocal FDG uptake compared to patients with no FDG uptake. CONCLUSION: Addition of PET/CT to FNAB did not improve prediction of thyroid cancer in patients with FNAB-derived follicular neoplasm or atypia.

Up-front PET/CT changes treatment intent in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

PURPOSE: In patients with newly diagnosed head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), we wanted to examine the differences in overall treatment decisions, i.e. curative versus palliative treatment intent, reached by a multidisciplinary team conference (MDTC) based on 18F-fluoro-deoxy-glucose-positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) or chest X-ray + MRI of the head and neck (CXR/MRI). PATIENTS AND METHODS: This was a prospective blinded cohort study based on paired data. Consecutive patients with histologically verified primary HNSCC were invited to participate. All included patients underwent CXR/MRI and PET/CT before diagnostic biopsy. An ordinary MDTC using all available imaging was conducted as per standard practice. After at least 3 months (to eliminate recall bias in the team), the first project MDTC was conducted, based on either CXR/MRI or PET/CT, and the tumor board drew conclusions regarding treatment. After an additional 3 months, a second project MDTC was conducted using the complementary imaging modality. RESULTS: A total of 307 patients were included. Based on CXR/MRI, 303 patients (99%) were recommended for curative treatment and only four patients (1%) for palliative treatment. Based on PET/CT, the MDTC concluded that 278 (91%) patients were suitable for curative treatment and 29 (9%) patients for palliative treatment. The absolute difference of 8% was statistically significant (95% CI: 4.8%-11.5%, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: A PET/CT-based imaging strategy significantly changed the decisions regarding treatment intent made by a MDTC for patients diagnosed with HNSCC, when compared with the standard imaging strategy of CXR/MRI.

Changes in Swallowing Symptoms and Esophageal Motility After Thyroid Surgery: A Prospective Cohort Study.

INTRODUCTION: Swallowing difficulties, the pathophysiology behind which is incompletely understood, have been reported in 47-83% of goiter patients referred for thyroidectomy. We aimed at examining the influence of thyroid surgery on swallowing symptoms and esophageal motility. METHODS: Thirty-three patients with benign nodular goiter undergoing thyroid surgery were included. All completed high-resolution esophageal manometry examinations and the goiter symptom scale score, assessed by the thyroid-specific patient-reported outcome measure. The evaluations were performed before and 6 months after surgery. RESULTS: Before surgery, the goiter symptom score was median 39 points (range 2-61), which improved to median five points (range 1-52) after surgery (p < 0.001). The motility parameters were within the limits of normal swallowing physiology, both before and after surgery. Only the upper esophageal sphincter (UES) pressure increased significantly from 70.6 ± 27.7 to 87.7 ± 43.2 mmHg after surgery (p = 0.04). Using regression analyses, there was no significant correlation between change in goiter symptoms and weight of the removed goiter, motility parameters, or motility disturbances. However, patients undergoing total thyroidectomy experienced a larger reduction in pressure in the area of the UES and former thyroid gland after surgery in comparison with patients undergoing less extensive surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Goiter symptoms improved significantly after thyroidectomy, but without correlation to esophageal motility disturbances. This information is essential when interpreting dysphagia in patients with nodular goiter, and when balancing patients' expectations to surgical goiter therapy. REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT03100357 ( www.clinicaltrials.org ).

The compensatory enlargement of the remaining thyroid lobe following hemithyroidectomy is small and without impact on symptom relief.

According to previous studies, hemithyroidectomy results in growth of the remaining thyroid lobe by up to 30% in first 12 months after surgery. However, this estimate is based on imprecise methods, high inter- and intra-observer variability, and lack of blinding of the measurements. Furthermore, it is unknown whether enlargement of the remaining hemi-thyroid interferes with the improvement in symptoms after surgery for goiter. We aimed to assess the impact of postoperative thyroid growth on goiter symptom relief following hemithyroidectomy in patients with benign nodular goiter. Outcomes were measured before and 6 months after hemithyroidectomy in 44 patients. Thyroid volumes were determined by two independent and blinded observers using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Inter- and intra-observer variability was visualized by Bland-Altman plots. Goiter symptoms were assessed by the Thyroid-Specific Patient-Reported-Outcome Questionnaire (ThyPRO) on a scale from 0 to 100 points. After hemithyroidectomy, the remaining thyroid lobe was 13.7 ± 6.4 mL, and enlarged by a mean of 1.8 mL over 6 months [95% confidence interval (CI) (1.6; 2.1), p < 0.001], corresponding to an increase of 17% [95% CI (12; 22)]. The Goiter Symptom score improved by 27 points [95% CI (21; 34), p < 0.0001] from median 39 points (range 2-86) at baseline, and was unaffected by the compensatory thyroid growth. Six months after hemithyroidectomy, using blinded MRI evaluations, we demonstrated a small but significant postoperative growth of the remaining hemi-thyroid, which did not significantly affect the considerable improvement in goiter symptoms.

Thyroidectomy Improves Tracheal Anatomy and Airflow in Patients with Nodular Goiter: A Prospective Cohort Study.

OBJECTIVE: A large goiter may cause compression of the trachea. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of thyroidectomy on tracheal anatomy and airflow and to correlate this with changes in health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients with benign nodular goiter. METHODS: Magnetic resonance images of the neck and respiratory flow-volume curves, including both inspiration and expiration, were performed prior to and 6 months following surgery. HRQoL was measured by selected scales from the thyroid-specific patient-reported outcome (ThyPRO). Cohen's effect size (ES) was calculated as mean change divided by standard deviation at baseline. ES of 0.2-0.5 were defined as small, 0.5-0.8 as moderate, and values >0.8 as large. RESULTS: Sixty-five patients completed all examinations. Median goiter volume was 58 mL (range, 14-642 mL) before surgery with surgical removal of a median of 43 g (range, 8-607 g). Six months after surgery, tracheal narrowing and deviation were diminished by a median of 26% (ES = 0.67, p < 0.001) and 33% (ES = 0.61, p < 0.001), respectively. Correspondingly, each 10% decrease in goiter volume resulted in 1.0% less tracheal narrowing (p < 0.001). Concomitantly, a small improvement was seen in forced inspiratory flow at 50% of forced vital capacity (ES = 0.32, p < 0.001). A reduction in tracheal narrowing was associated with improvements in the Impaired Daily Life scale (0.33 points per 1% decrease in tracheal narrowing, p = 0.03) of the ThyPRO questionnaire. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with symptomatic benign nodular goiter, thyroidectomy resulted in substantial improvements in tracheal anatomy and improvements in inspiratory flow, which were followed by gains in HRQoL. This information is pertinent when counseling patients before choice of treatment.

Quality of life after thyroidectomy in patients with nontoxic nodular goiter: A prospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Using the thoroughly validated Thyroid-Related Quality-of-Life Patient-Reported Outcome (ThyPRO) questionnaire, the purpose of this study was to investigate changes in disease-specific quality of life (QOL) after surgical treatment in patients with benign nontoxic multinodular goiters. METHOD: Patients with goiters scheduled for thyroid surgery (n = 106) and individuals from the general population (n = 739) were studied. The ThyPRO data before, 3 months, and 6 months after surgery were compared with normative scores from the general population using a linear mixed model and t tests. RESULTS: Before surgery, patients with goiters experienced poorer scores on all scales compared to the general population. After surgery, moderate to large improvements were seen in goiter symptoms, tiredness, anxiety, and overall QOL. After surgery, all scales returned to values equal to the general population. The degree of anxiety was, in fact, lower than in the general population. CONCLUSION: Thyroid surgery leads to significant benefit among patients with benign nontoxic goiters by restoring QOL equal to that in the general population.

Comparative efficacy of radiofrequency and laser ablation for the treatment of benign thyroid nodules: systematic review including traditional pooling and bayesian network meta-analysis.

PURPOSE: To compare the efficacy of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and laser ablation (LA) for treatment of benign solid thyroid nodules, using a systematic review including traditional pooling and Bayesian network meta-analysis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A comprehensive literature search in PubMed-MEDLINE, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library databases identified prospective studies evaluating the percentage mean change [absolute mean change (mL)] in nodule volume after RFA or LA. Studies from January 1, 2000, to November 1, 2013, were included. Review of 128 potential papers, including a full-text review of 33, identified 10 eligible papers covering a total of 184 patients for meta-analysis. The percentage mean change [absolute mean change] in nodule volume over a 6-month follow-up was compared between RFA and LA. RESULTS: Based on the traditional frequentist approach, the pooled percentage mean changes (95% confidence interval) of RFA and LA were 76.1% (70.1-82.1) and 49.9% (41.4-58.5), respectively, and the pooled absolute mean changes (95% confidence interval) of RFA and LA were 8.9 mL (6.6-11.2) and 5.2 mL (4.3-6.1), respectively. Based on the Bayesian network meta-analysis, RFA achieved a larger pooled percentage mean change (95% credible interval) and absolute mean change (95% credible interval) compared to LA [77.8% (67.7-88.0) vs 49.5% (26.7-72.4), and 9.2 mL (5.8-11.9) vs 5.3 mL (2.1-8.5), respectively]. The RFA group has the highest probability of having the most efficacious treatment (98.7%). There were no major complications after either RFA or LA. CONCLUSIONS: RFA appears to be superior to LA in reducing benign solid thyroid nodule volume, despite the smaller number of treatment sessions without major side effects.

The advent of ultrasound-guided ablation techniques in nodular thyroid disease: towards a patient-tailored approach.

Surgery is the long-established therapeutic option for benign thyroid nodules, which steadily grow and become symptomatic. The cost of thyroid surgery, the risk of temporary or permanent complications, and the effect on quality of life, however, remain relevant concerns. Therefore, various minimally invasive treatments, directed towards office-based management of symptomatic nodules, without requiring general anaesthesia, and with negligible damage to the skin and cervical tissues, have been proposed during the past two decades. Today, ultrasound-guided percutaneous ethanol injection and thermal ablation with laser or radiofrequency have been thoroughly evaluated, and are accessible procedures in specialized centres. In clinical practice, relapsing thyroid cysts are effectively managed with percutaneous ethanol injection treatment, which should be considered therapy of choice. In solid non-functioning thyroid nodules that grow or become symptomatic, trained operators may safely induce, with a single session of laser ablation treatment or radiofrequency ablation, a 50% volume decrease and, in parallel, improve local symptoms. In contrast, hyperfunctioning nodules remain best treated with radioactive iodine, which results in a better control of hyperthyroidism, also in the long-term, and fewer side-effects. Currently, minimally invasive treatment is also investigated for achieving local control of small size neck recurrences of papillary thyroid carcinoma in patients who are poor candidates for repeat cervical lymph node dissection. This particular use should still be considered experimental.