Quality of life after ethanol ablation of thyroid nodules: a one-year follow-up study.

Abstract

Objective: We aimed to evaluate thyroid-related and generic health-related quality of life (HRQoL), using the Thyroid-related Patient-Reported Outcome (ThyPRO)-39 and the Short Form health survey (SF)-36, before, six and twelve months after ethanol ablation (EA) for cystic thyroid nodules (CTNs), respectively.

Methods: We conducted a prospective cohort study on consecutive patients treated with EA for cytologically benign and symptomatic CTNs at our university hospital over a period of four years. Patients were included if they had the ability to complete self-administered questionnaires in Italian and they had one year follow-up.

Results: We included 104 nodules [median volume 15.6 (7.0 - 32.0) mL] from 104 patients. Six and twelve months after treatment, ThyPRO-39 scores had largely (i.e., effect size > 0.5) and significantly (P value adjusted < 0.001) improved across all scales compared with baseline. Six and twelve months after treatment, SF-36 scores had largely and significantly (P value adjusted < 0.001) improved across all scales. Nodule size, but no gender, age or body mass index, positively and significantly influenced (worsening) the general quality of life item of ThyPRO-39 at baseline, at 6-month and 12-month follow-up.

Conclusions: EA of symptomatic and benign CTNs is associated with a great improvement of HRQoL scores of ThyPRO-39 and SF-36 at 6-month and 12-month follow-up. Both physical and mental domains of HRQoL are positively affected by EA of CTNs. Risk factors of remaining HRQoL deficits one year after EA need further exploration.