Fig. 3. RFA using adjustable electrode for benign thyroid nodule.

A. 33-year-old woman with thyroid nodule measuring 4.4 cm across largest diameter and 25.5 mL volume. Patient symptom and cosmetic scores were both 4. 1-cm active tip was applied to peripheral portion (B) and 1.5-cm active tip was applied to central portion (C) for treatment of this large-sized nodule. Since nodule was too large to treat in single session, medial section was left untreated (not shown). Additional ablation with fixed electrode was performed for remnant lesion. Six years later, follow-up ultrasound demonstrates that nodule (crosses) (D) has been reduced to 1 mL (volume reduction rate: 96.1%), and symptom and cosmetic scores were 0 and 1, respectively.