To explore the application value of cold circulation radiofrequency ablation (RFA) under ultrasound guidance in benign thyroid nodules (BTN).

A total of 96 BTN patients from December 2022 to December 2023 were enrolled and divided into a conventional group and an experimental group by envelope randomization, with 48 patients in each group. The conventional group received open surgery, while the experimental group underwent cold circulation RFA under ultrasound guidance. Data were processed using SPSS 23.0. Measurement data were expressed as (±s) and analyzed by independent sample t test; enumeration data were described as [cases (%)] and analyzed by χ² test. The test level was α=0.05.

Compared with the conventional group, the experimental group had shorter operation and postoperative hospital stay, and less intraoperative blood loss (P<0.05). Visual analog scale (VAS) scores at 12 h and 24 h postoperatively were lower than those at 6 h postoperatively in both groups, and the experimental group showed lower VAS scores than the conventional group at 6 h, 12 h, and 24 h postoperatively (P<0.05). The nodule volume in the experimental group gradually decreased at 6 and 12 months postoperatively compared with that before surgery, and the volume shrinkage rate at 12 months postoperatively was higher than that at 6 months postoperatively (P<0.05). Levels of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), free triiodothyronine (FT3), and free thyroxine (FT4) in the experimental group showed no significant changes at 3, 6, and 12 months postoperatively compared with those before surgery (P>0.05), while the conventional group had increased TSH and decreased FT3/FT4 levels at 3 months postoperatively (P<0.05). The experimental group had lower TSH and higher FT3/FT4 levels than the conventional group at 3 months postoperatively (P<0.05). The total incidence of postoperative complications in the experimental group was lower than that in the conventional group (P<0.05).

Cold circulation RFA under ultrasound guidance for BTN can shorten operation time, alleviate postoperative pain, reduce nodule volume, preserve thyroid function, and decrease postoperative complications.