Consensus Thyroid Nodule Radiofrequency Ablation Reporting Guidelines Established Using a Delphi Approach.

OBJECTIVES

Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) has become increasingly utilized for thyroid nodules. However, best practice recommendations on data collection and outcomes reporting are lacking. The objective of this study was to generate consensus guidelines for thyroid RFA data collection for purposes of quality assurance and collaborative research.

METHODS

We recruited a multidisciplinary panel of experienced RFA practitioners through the North American Society for Interventional Thyroidology. Using a modified Delphi process, experts created and iteratively revised a data collection form encompassing items from the pre-, intra-, and postprocedural phases. Emphasis was placed on parameters that are readily available to both community and academic-based practitioners. Items with > 70% (strongly-agree) or 100% (agree) consensus for inclusion were retained. The Delphi process and the final reporting instrument were built on REDCap.

RESULTS

Ten panelists from 9 institutions performing a median of 22.5 cases/year completed 5 Delphi rounds. All panelists voted strongly-agree for retention on 63% (n = 37) of included items. The final instrument was divided into 3 forms: 1. Preprocedure (n = 18 items), 2. Immediate postprocedure (n = 9 items), and 3. Follow-up (n = 10 items).

CONCLUSIONS

Adoption of these 3 new thyroid RFA data collection forms by new and established interventionalists may facilitate collaboration, standardized outcomes reporting, and clinical trial design.