{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,7]],"date-time":"2026-09-07T10:10:46Z","timestamp":1788775846682,"version":"build-2803163510"},"reference-count":36,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"17","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,7]],"date-time":"2026-09-07T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1788739200000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Diagnostics"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Background: The management of benign thyroid nodules causing compressive symptoms, cosmetic concerns, or rapid growth in older adults is challenging because of multimorbidity and increased surgical risk. Ultrasound-guided microwave ablation (MWA) is a minimally invasive treatment option; however, data regarding its efficacy and safety in older patients remain limited. This study compared clinical outcomes of MWA between older and younger adults with benign thyroid nodules. Methods: This retrospective comparative study included 98 patients with benign thyroid nodules causing compressive symptoms, cosmetic concerns, or rapid growth (defined as more than a twofold increase in volume within 6 months) who underwent ultrasound-guided MWA. Patients were divided into older adults (\u226560 years, n = 33) and younger adults (18\u201359 years, n = 65). Nodule volume, volume reduction rate (VRR), symptom and cosmetic scores, thyroid function, and procedure-related complications were evaluated at baseline and 3- and 6-month follow-up. Comorbidity burden was assessed using the age-adjusted Charlson Comorbidity Index (aCCI). Results: MWA significantly reduced nodule volume in both groups. At 6 months, median VRR was comparable between older and younger patients (66.1% vs. 66.7%, p = 0.50). Symptom and cosmetic scores significantly improved in both groups (for both groups p &lt; 0.001), while thyroid function remained stable. Despite higher comorbidity burden among older patients, treatment outcomes were similar between groups. No major complications occurred; transient hoarseness developed in two younger patients and resolved during follow-up. Conclusions: Ultrasound-guided MWA appears to be an effective and safe minimally invasive treatment for benign thyroid nodules in older adults. Comparable outcomes between older and younger patients suggest that age and comorbidity burden should be considered in clinical decision-making rather than as absolute limitations to treatment.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/diagnostics16172866","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,7]],"date-time":"2026-09-07T09:23:37Z","timestamp":1788773017000},"page":"2866","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Ultrasound-Guided Microwave Ablation for Benign Thyroid Nodules in Older Adults: Comparative Analysis of Clinical Outcomes and Safety"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"16","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-4772-2751","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Feyza","family":"Mutlay","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Division of Geriatrics, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Canakkale Onsekiz Mart University, Canakkale 17000, T\u00fcrkiye"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"},{"role":"conceptualization","vocabulary":"credit"},{"role":"methodology","vocabulary":"credit"},{"role":"formal-analysis","vocabulary":"credit"},{"role":"investigation","vocabulary":"credit"},{"role":"writing-original-draft","vocabulary":"credit"},{"role":"writing-review-editing","vocabulary":"credit"},{"role":"supervision","vocabulary":"credit"},{"role":"project-administration","vocabulary":"credit"}]},{"given":"Mehmet","family":"Yuksek","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Radiology, Van Training and Research Hospital, University of Health Sciences, Van 65170, T\u00fcrkiye"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"},{"role":"methodology","vocabulary":"credit"},{"role":"data-curation","vocabulary":"credit"},{"role":"writing-review-editing","vocabulary":"credit"},{"role":"visualization","vocabulary":"credit"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-8247-2009","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Saim","family":"Turkoglu","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medicine, Yuzuncu Y\u0131l University, Van 65090, T\u00fcrkiye"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Zehra","family":"Kara","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism Diseases, Memorial \u015ei\u015fli Hospital, Istanbul 34360, T\u00fcrkiye"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"},{"role":"conceptualization","vocabulary":"credit"},{"role":"methodology","vocabulary":"credit"},{"role":"formal-analysis","vocabulary":"credit"},{"role":"investigation","vocabulary":"credit"},{"role":"writing-review-editing","vocabulary":"credit"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,7]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"365","DOI":"10.4103\/jmu.jmu_62_24","article-title":"Ultrasonography of incidental thyroid nodules: A systematic review and meta-analysis of prevalence","volume":"33","author":"Liao","year":"2025","journal-title":"J. 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