Thermal field management improves patient-reported outcomes during ablation for papillary thyroid carcinoma: A retrospective cohort study

Table 1 Baseline characteristics, n (%)

Parameter	Before PSM			After PSM
	TFM (n = 113)	non-TFM (n = 377)	P value	TFM (n = 108)	non-TFM (n = 216)	P value
Sex
Female	82 (72.6)	261 (69.2)	0.497	77 (71.3)	135 (62.5)	0.148
Male	31 (27.4)	116 (30.8)		31 (28.7)	81 (37.5)
Age (year)	41.7 ± 10.6	41.1 ± 10.7	0.996	41.5 ± 10.6	41.2 ± 10.9	0.782
FT3 (pg/mL)	3.1 ± 0.4	3.2 ± 0.5	0.039	3.2 ± 0.4	3.2 ± 0.4	0.059
FT4 (ng/dL)	1.3 ± 0.2	1.3 ± 0.2	0.111	1.3 ± 0.2	1.3 ± 0.2	0.234
TSH (uIU/mL)	1.9 ± 1.1	2.0 ± 1.2	0.972	2.0 ± 1.1	2.1 ± 1.4	0.426
Maximum diameter (cm)
≤ 1	75 (66.4)	293 (77.7)	0.014	75 (69.4)	159 (73.6)	0.511
> 1	38 (33.6)	84 (22.3)		33 (30.6)	57 (26.4)
Lesion location
Left lobe	55 (48.7)	179 (47.5)	0.210	52 (48.1)	109 (50.5)	0.088
Right lobe	50 (44.2)	185 (49.1)		48 (44.4)	102 (47.2)
Isthmus	8 (7.1)	13 (3.4)		8 (7.4)	5 (2.3)

TFM: Thermal field management; PSM: Propensity score matching.

Table 2 Treatment parameters in the thermal field management and non-thermal field management groups

Variables	Before PSM			After PSM
	TFM (n = 113)	non-TFM (n = 377)	P value	TFM (n = 108)	non-TFM (n = 216)	P value
Ablation time (second)	73.0 (18.0-524.0)	119.0 (17.0-681.0)	< 0.001	72 (18-524)	121 (17-681)	< 0.001
Power (Watt)	30.0 (25.0-60.0)	35.0 (15.0-50.0)	< 0.001	30 (25-60)	35 (15-45)	< 0.001
Total energy (J)	2200.0 (660.0-27540.0)	4080.0 (570.0-26760.0)	< 0.001	2145.0 (660.0-27540.0)	4112.5 (570.0-26760.0)	< 0.001
Energy/mL (J/mL)	12019.2 (477.8-84134.6)	28490.0 (1648.5-338942.3)	< 0.001	12497.1 (477.8-84134.6)	27243.3 (2991.4-288461.5)	< 0.001

TFM: Thermal field management; PSM: Propensity score matching.

Table 3 Complications and side effects in the thermal field management and non-thermal field management groups, n (%)

Variables		Before PSM				After PSM
		TFM (n = 113)	non-TFM (n = 377)	HR (95%CI)	P value	TFM (n = 108)	non-TFM (n = 216)	HR (95%CI)	P value
Complications	Voice change	1 (0.9)	23 (6.1)	0.137 (0.018-0.963)	0.024	1 (0.9)	14 (6.5)	0.135 (0.017-0.983)	0.049
	Vomiting	0 (0.0)	1 (0.3)	-	1.000	0 (0)	0 (0)	-	-
Side effect	Pain	4 (3.5)	35 (9.3)	0.359 (0.125-0.987)	0.048	4 (3.7)	21 (9.7)	0.357 (0.119-1.068)	0.090
	Neck discomfort	2 (1.8)	10 (2.7)	0.661 (0.143-3.063)	0.594	2 (1.9)	6 (2.8)	0.660 (0.131-3.328)	0.899
	Coughing	0 (0.0)	2 (0.5)	-	1.000	0 (0)	1 (0.5)	-	1.000
	Dry mouth	4 (3.5)	26 (6.9)	0.495 (0.169-1.451)	0.192	4 (3.7)	14 (6.5)	0.555 (0.1789-1.728)	0.440
	Dysphagia	0 (0.0)	3 (0.8)	-	1.000	0 (0)	3 (1.4)	-	0.538
	Foreign body sensation	1 (0.9)	8 (2.1)	0.412 (0.051-3.328)	0.692	1 (0.9)	4 (1.9)	0.495 (0.055-4.486)	0.873
	Tachycardiac	3 (2.7)	10 (2.7)	1.001 (0.271-3.701)	0.999	3 (2.8)	6 (2.8)	1.000 (0.245-4.078)	1.000
	Tired	6 (5.3)	27 (7.2)	0.727 (0.292-1.807)	0.491	6 (5.6)	17 (7.9)	0.689 (0.263-1.800)	0.592

TFM: Thermal field management; PSM: Propensity score matching.