To compare the application of ultrasound-guided radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and minimally invasive endoscopic surgery in the treatment of patients with benign thyroid nodules.

From January 2015 to January 2019, one thousand patients with benign thyroid nodules who underwent surgery in the 928th Hospital of Chinese People’s Liberation Army Joint Logistics and Support Force were divided into ultrasound-guided RFA group (594 cases) and minimally invasive endoscopic surgery group (406 cases) according to different surgical methods. The operation time, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative hospitalization time, changes of thyroid function before surgery and 6 months after surgery, interleukin-6 (IL-6), C-reactive protein (CRP), tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), and occurrence of postoperative complications were compared between the two groups.

After surgery, levels of IL-6, CRP and TNF-α in RFA group were significantly lower than those in minimally invasive endoscopic surgery group (t=-67.827, -117.340, 32.192, all P<0.001). The operation time, postoperative hospitalization time, surgical blood loss, and the incidence of postoperative complications in RFA group were significantly lower than those in minimally invasive endoscopic surgery group (t=85.135, 67.418, 65.475, χ²=169.568, all P<0.001).

The damage of both ultrasound-guided RFA and minimally invasive endoscopic surgery in treatment of patients with benign thyroid nodules is relatively less for thyroid function. The safety of the former is better, with less trauma and fewer postoperative complications.